Just days before the Allies would land in Normandy, the USN fought the largest engagement in the war against Japan in covering their own invasions of Hokkaido. The Japanese launched an all out attack on my carrier forces. LBA, KB, you name it. Even Ki-27 Nates got involved! Unfortunately, the USN was not able to launch any strikes against the KB. Probably because of the lack of detection needed to react to it an 8 hex strike. Here are some screenshots of the strikes in action:
There are just too many strikes to post! But I attached the replay anyway. Here are the strikes that actually hit ships:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 109 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 36
D4Y1 Judy x 30
D4Y3 Judy x 36
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36
Ki-84a Frank x 32
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 18
F4U-1A Corsair x 117
F6F-3 Hellcat x 315
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 10 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 10 destroyed, 3 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y3 Judy: 4 destroyed, 8 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 17 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Essex
CVL San Jacinto, Bomb hits 1
BC Renown
CVL Cabot, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Bunker Hill
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 129
G3M2 Nell x 35
G4M1 Betty x 35
P1Y1 Frances x 9
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 18
Ki-84a Frank x 17
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 18
F4U-1A Corsair x 116
F6F-3 Hellcat x 279
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 16 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 5 destroyed, 14 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed by flak
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
P1Y1 Frances: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CV Essex, Torpedo hits 2
CV Bunker Hill
CVE Barnes, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CVE Shipley Bay
CVE Ranee, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Saginaw Bay, Torpedo hits 1
CVL San Jacinto
CVL Cabot, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BC Renown
DD Irwin
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 95 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 24
A6M8 Zero x 35
D3A1 Val x 27
N1K1-J George x 10
N1K2-J George x 48
Ki-27b Nate x 114
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 24
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 11
Ki-84a Frank x 27
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 18
F4U-1A Corsair x 100
F6F-3 Hellcat x 216
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 19 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-27b Nate: 8 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 5 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 3 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 2 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 6 destroyed
Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 1
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 43
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 9
F4U-1A Corsair x 50
F6F-3 Hellcat x 96
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 18 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Bunker Hill
CLAA Raleigh
CVL San Jacinto
BC Renown, Torpedo hits 1
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 11
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 26
Ki-48-IIc Lily x 27
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 5
F4U-1A Corsair x 15
F6F-3 Hellcat x 42
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 5 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-48-IIc Lily: 10 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-48-IIc Lily: 2 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CVL San Jacinto, Bomb hits 1
CV Bunker Hill
CVE Barnes, on fire
CVE Shamrock Bay
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 59
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 1
F4U-1A Corsair x 14
F6F-3 Hellcat x 34
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 8 destroyed, 24 damaged
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 7 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CV Bunker Hill
CVE Barnes, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Saginaw Bay
CV Essex, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVL San Jacinto
CVE Shipley Bay, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CVE Shamrock Bay
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 13
Ki-46-III Dinah x 50
Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 5 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 6 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 2 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CV Essex, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Rudyerd Bay, Kamikaze hits 1
CV Bunker Hill, Kamikaze hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 32,560 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 45
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 18 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CV Essex, Kamikaze hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Rudyerd Bay
CV Bunker Hill, Kamikaze hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BC Renown, Kamikaze hits 3
CVL San Jacinto, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Daly, Kamikaze hits 1
DD Caldwell
DD Young
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 30
Ki-46-III Dinah x 27
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 12 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CVL San Jacinto, on fire, heavy damage
DD Caldwell, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy damage
DD Duncan
BC Renown, Kamikaze hits 3, on fire
DD Daly
CV Essex, Kamikaze hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA Raleigh, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire
DD Alden, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
DD Gwin, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Bunker Hill, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Cabot, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
DD Young, Kamikaze hits 1
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 114 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 57
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 24 destroyed
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
BC Renown, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire
CV Bunker Hill, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Rudyerd Bay, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire
DD Morrison
DD Caldwell, Kamikaze hits 2, and is sunk
DD Daly, Kamikaze hits 3, and is sunk
CVL San Jacinto, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA Raleigh, Kamikaze hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Duncan, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
DD Young
DD Gwin, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
CVE Natoma Bay, Kamikaze hits 1
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 32
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 16 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
BC Renown, heavy fires
CVE Rudyerd Bay, on fire
CVE Natoma Bay, on fire
CV Bunker Hill, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Young
CVE Ranee, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Shipley Bay, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CLAA Raleigh, heavy fires, heavy damage
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 3
Ki-48-IIc Lily x 24
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 damaged
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-48-IIc Lily: 4 damaged
Ki-48-IIc Lily: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CVE Natoma Bay, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BC Renown, heavy fires
DD Brooks, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CLAA Raleigh, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 27
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
BC Renown, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires
DD Ellet, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL San Jacinto, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA Raleigh, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Essex, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Bunker Hill, Bomb hits 1, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 30
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 12 destroyed
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 22 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 3 destroyed
Allied Ships
BC Renown, Kamikaze hits 3, heavy fires
CVE Shamrock Bay, Kamikaze hits 1
CVE Rudyerd Bay, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Essex, Kamikaze hits 2, and is sunk
CVL San Jacinto, Kamikaze hits 3, and is sunk
DD Ellet, on fire
DD Brooks, on fire
CVE Shipley Bay, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 84 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 8 destroyed
Allied Ships
BC Renown, Kamikaze hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA Raleigh, Kamikaze hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Brooks, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 8 destroyed
Allied Ships
BC Renown, Kamikaze hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA Raleigh, and is sunk
DD Ellet, Kamikaze hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Brooks, on fire
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-36 Ida x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-36 Ida: 5 destroyed
Allied Ships
BC Renown, Kamikaze hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Brooks, Kamikaze hits 2, and is sunk
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 6 damaged
Allied Ships
BC Renown, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Saginaw Bay
CVE Shamrock Bay, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Wow. That was serious carnage. Interestingly, I did just fine against the KB strikes. But after dozens and dozens of raids my CAP disappated and opened the door for kamikamzes. And many of them found their mark. Heaviest losses for the USN to date by far. Until now I had lost only a single USN CV; today I lost two. I had four roughly equal CV fleets and one of them was completely destroyed. And many of my CVEs were crippled. But was it worth it? Definitely! Despite my heavy losses, I came out about equal on VPs:
1800 Japanse planes shot down in a single day! Absolutely insane. Most of my losses were useless bombers sunk aboard CVs.
But with the Allies having landed two full armies Hokkaido without any troop losses upon ship, I cannot help but to declare victory. Sure I lost a bunch of ships, but what are those ships for if not to cover an invasion of Japan? This was unquestionably the most dangerous day of the war and I survived with most of my forces still intact. It will take time for Japanese air units to reinforce with new planes and by that time all my ships will have unloaded. And all of this done before the Allies land in France despite the "Germany first" strategy
The only real regret I have is that I was unable to launch strikes to finally finish off the remaining KB. But even here they were not much of a factor; their greatest contribution was clearing the sky for kamikazes.
