well, while we're all waiting for Speedy to get his butt back from Spain....figured i'd post the results of a current 5.0 42a mod AI game (me Allies) just to keep things interesting. May 29 marks the first carrier on carrier clash between the Kido Butai and the USN carrier force.
The battle came as a total suprise to me as previously there'd been little sign of the KB other than one brief appearance by a 3 CV group NE of Buin which quickly retreated after getting bloodied against Port Morosby's air defences. For my own operations, I'd decided to help thwart Japanese ambitions to isolate PM by re-taking Gili Gili....held by a single SNLF force which my B-17's had been making life difficult for.
Two TF's constituting four CV's were escorting the 14th NZ brigade to Gili Gili when a four CV + at least one CVL appeared in the Coral Sea, bombing PM for damage but losing many planes in the process. Given those losses i opted to continue the operation since the odds appeared reletively even. A major series of exchanges resulted. I made a tactical error in devoting most of my fighter resources to fleet defence...which resulted in the KB Zero CAP getting some major licks at my carrier strikes. The SBD's held up well despite being surrounded by mass Zero attacks...the unarmored Devestators suffered more...but despite the losses, we succeeded in badly damaging at least two big Japanese CVs.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/29/42
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Sub attack at 64,44
Japanese Ships
TK Akatuki Maru
Allied Ships
SS Drum
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Day Air attack on TF at 54,95
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 67
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
SBD Dauntless x 43
TBD Devastator x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 11 destroyed, 21 damaged
TBD Devastator: 10 destroyed, 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1 (belt armor Near Miss)
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CV Soryu
CA Tone
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 54,95
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 30
TBD Devastator x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 12 destroyed, 6 damaged
TBD Devastator: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Akagi
CA Maya
CV Hiryu
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 54,95
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 30
TBD Devastator x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed, 6 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 22 damaged
TBD Devastator: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 2
CV Soryu, on fire
CA Kumano, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 54,95
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 15
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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Good results...yay me! Uh oh....radar screens show bogies.....
Day Air attack on TF at 56,96
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 12
B5N Kate x 9
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 28
F4F-4 Wildcat x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
D3A Val: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
CV Lexington
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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First strike beat off with no damage to the fleet. Meanwhile, my small fleet train gets attacked from another quarter.
Day Air attack on TF at 57,96
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 20
G4M1 Betty x 35
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged
Allied Ships
AO Neosho, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sims, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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2nd strike was much more impressive and effective Damn Kate bombers! [X(]
Day Air attack on TF at 56,96
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39
D3A Val x 24
B5N Kate x 45
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 26
F4F-4 Wildcat x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A Val: 4 destroyed, 16 damaged
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 33 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 12 destroyed, 2 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 11 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA Indianapolis, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA Northampton
CA San Francisco
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
2 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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More interference from distant Rabaul....
Day Air attack on TF at 57,96
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
MSW Kalgoorlie
AP Largs Bay
AP Manoora, Torpedo hits 1
AP Orungal, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Afternoon counterattack by my forces:
Day Air attack on TF at 54,95
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
SBD Dauntless x 19
TBD Devastator x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged
TBD Devastator: 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Ryujo
CA Takao
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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Japanese afternoon counter-attack:
Day Air attack on TF at 56,96
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
D3A Val x 9
B5N Kate x 8
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
D3A Val: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
CV Lexington
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1 (dud)
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
2 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
Dusk falls.....i've decided not to retreat.....we are within 120 miles of Gili Gili. I hold a tactical advantage due to the proximity of PM....and all my marooned bombers were able to make it there minimizing losses. I have also transfered additional LB assets there and hope to catch the crippled Japanese CV's the next day. The bad news is that Hornet sank immediately and Enterprise is crippled at 91% FLT. I don't expect her to survive as she is also burning furiously. Lexington and Yorktown are intact and ready for tommorrow.
