Yamamoto's dream (tomamars J VS Sundowners A)

[tomamars]

Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 111 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
B5N2 Kate x 87
D3A1 Val x 79

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 1
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 11 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-1 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Tautog, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AD Dobbin, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DM Sicard, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Airbase hits 19
Runway hits 38
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1

This attack did do some good damage to Allied shipping and aircraft but was also costly to Japan’s dive bomber force (and pilots). KB can’t take this rate of losses for much longer...

[tomamars]

PI AREA:

Chase after Allied transport fleets continues:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Sangi at 75,95, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
DD Yukikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
xAKL Luzon, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAKL Magallanes, Shell hits 16, and is sunk


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 301 encounters mine field at Bataan (78,77)

Allied Ships
PG Asheville, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

2 mines cleared


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tandjoengselor at 70,94, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
DD Yukikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
PG Tulsa, Shell hits 1
AS Canopus, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AM Tanager, Shell hits 1
AM Quail, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Pecos, Shell hits 4
TK Mindanao, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Capillo, Shell hits 1
xAK Ethel Edwards, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Tantalus, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Yu Sang

[tomamars]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Taytay at 73,78, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
TB Otori
TB Hiyodori, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
TB Hayabusa

Allied Ships
xAK Hinsang, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Munlock, Shell hits 33, heavy fires, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Tandjoengselor at 70,94, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
DD Yukikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
TK Manatawny, Shell hits 29, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Governor Wright, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Tawi Tawi at 71,91

Japanese Ships
SS I-123

Allied Ships
xAKL Bisayas, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

xAKL Bisayas is sighted by SS I-123
SS I-123 launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Bisayas


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Tawi Tawi at 71,92, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
DD Yukikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
AO Trinity, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Don Jose, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAKL Sagoland, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
xAKL Paz, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAKL Anakan, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Compagnia Filipinas, Shell hits 30, and is sunk
xAKL Corregidor, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
xAKL Palawan, Shell hits 13, and is sunk

After all this carnage, I don’t think there is much xAKs left in the PI area...

[tomamars]

MALAYAN THEATER:

Remember yesterday’s fiasco by the hand of the Royal navy’s light cruiser force? Well now it happened again, only done by the Dutch this time:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 58,88, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii, Shell hits 50, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Saga, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
xAP Hakusan Maru, Shell hits 24, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Java
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1
CL Dragon
CL Durban, Shell hits 1
DD Van Nes
DD Evertsen
DD Electra
DD Express, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Kuching at 58,88

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS O19

CL Kashii is sighted by SS O19
SS O19 launches 4 torpedoes


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Singkawang at 55,87

Japanese Ships
SS I-156

Allied Ships
DD Evertsen
CL Tromp
CL Java
DD Express, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Van Nes
DD Electra

SS I-156 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Evertsen

I should really pay more attention on protecting my flanks... My LBA was night bombing Singapore AGAIN to no avail... Only good thing with this fiasco is the fact that my landing force actually managed to land it’s troops before being sunk. We’ll attack Kuching tomorrow.

[tomamars]

But we managed to get some revenge by bombing Georgetown’s port:

Morning Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 21
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 16
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAP Hong Siang, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kelantan, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Nam Yong, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 9
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 5000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 5000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 26
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Hong Siang, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Nam Yong, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 15
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1

[tomamars]

CHINA

Attack on Hong Kong commences after few days of bombing airfield to prevent building of forts:

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21483 troops, 321 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 634

Defending force 6560 troops, 126 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 230

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 286

Allied adjusted defense: 257

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
767 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled

Allied ground losses:
588 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

It went well so we’ll rest for a day and than go at it again.

[tomamars]

EXTRA:

Remeber that search ring of subs and PBs around Hawaii and east of HI? Well it managed to locate the Big Fish:

Sub attack near Midway Island at 158,94

Japanese Ships
SS I-175

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 1 (!!!)
CA Northampton
DD Ellet
DD Balch
DD Porter
DD Flusser
DD Lamson

SS I-175 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Enterprise

Damage to Big E is not extensive but information we gained from it is. I’ll send all my subs and PBs in the Midway area to look for Allied fleet. Also KB will feint move north, north-west where its AOs are waiting, and it will refuel. Distance between KB and last known location of Big E is 28 hexes so full speed charge will not do for now. I’ll try to detect it’s direction first and than direct KB towards it. This torpedo hit will undoubtedly slow Big E down and this might be our big chance.
As for KB, two CVs don’t have any torpedoes left so they’ll act as search platforms. Also, I’ll detach Kaga because it’s speed so I can achieve 9+9 full speed charge. Fingers crossed this works...

[tomamars]

11.12.1941 KB prepares ambush for Big E

CENT.PAC. AREA

AIR OPERATIONS PHASE : AM
PB Kaikei Maru followed by Allied Torpedo Bomber at 157,104 near Johnston Island
SBD-2 Dauntless has spotted a Japanese PC at 157,104
SBD-2 Dauntless has spotted a Japanese PB at 157,104

AIR OPERATIONS PHASE : PM
SBD-2 Dauntless has spotted a Japanese PB at 157,104
SBD-2 Dauntless has spotted a Ansyu xPB class PB at 157,104

So it’s confirmed, Allied CV is moving towards Pearl! KB is undetected in location 177, 100 perfectly positioned to block the path between Allied CV and Pearl. DBs are set to 30% search in order to increase DL when in range. Hopefully my math is correct on this one.

[tomamars]

Other than chase for CVs, combat in this theatre is not going well for Japan. My opponent manages to ambush my two landing forces, one in Kavieng (infantry manages to land and watch as its transports get blown out of water behind them)

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kavieng at 106,122, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Kashima, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Hokkai Maru, Shell hits 14, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Canberra
CL Perth
CL Adelaide

[tomamars]

... and other in Ocean island.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Ocean Island at 130,130, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Santos Maru, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
xAKL Toyotsu Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Aratama Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAKL Katsura Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
xAKL Kaito Maru, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Tenposan Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Louisville, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
1665 casualties reported
Squads: 67 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 94 destroyed, 83 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 27 (12 destroyed, 15 disabled)

To make matters worse, one of my subs hits the mine near Palmyra:

TF 75 encounters mine field at Palmyra (170,133)

Japanese Ships
SS I-169, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

All in all, poor day for IJN, maybe we’ll set thing straight tomorrow in CV battle...

[tomamars]

PI AREA:

Submarine attack near Tarakan at 67,91

Japanese Ships
SS I-123

Allied Ships
xAKL Latouche, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

xAKL Latouche is sighted by SS I-123
SS I-123 launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Latouche


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Laoag at 80,72, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 2,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
DD John D. Ford sunk by DD Inazuma at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

My sweeps fail to show up before the raid so my bombers have to pay the price:

Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G3M2 Nell x 9
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
P-35A x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 97 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
G3M2 Nell x 25
G4M1 Betty x 15

Allied aircraft
P-35A x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 14


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 53 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 81 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Runway hits 2

Nothing to brag about in PI area today...

[tomamars]

MALAYAN THEATER:

I atempted a kind of Mersing gambit and general idea was this:
AP carrying SNLF force should land in Mersing while BB TF should provide screen. 11 Zeros and 16 Oscar Ia-s will LRCAP BB TF and thus protect landing site from the air.
Well, that was theory, but in reality BB TF ended up 1 hex away north of Mersing so landing TF was defenseless:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,82

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 10
Vildebeest III x 12

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAP Hikawa Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
1369 casualties reported
Squads: 58 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 91 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (14 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

[tomamars]

A little payback happened later as second TB splinter attacked BB TF with no fighter escort and results are predictable:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,81

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 16

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 7 destroyed

This will unfortunately delay our operations in DEI for at least a week...

[tomamars]

12.12.1941 MIDWAY (Japanese version)

CENT.PAC. AREA

KB was ordered on flank speed towards possible location of Big E as explained in previous posts and than this happened in the middle of the night:



Luckily for us it ended quickly with no shots hitting mark.

[tomamars]

But major event of the night stage came right after that:

[tomamars]

Day Time Surface Combat, near French Frigate Shoal at 165,104, Range 28,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Akagi
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranui
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
CV Lexington
CV Enterprise
CA Portland
CA Northampton
CA Chester
CA Chicago
CA Salt Lake City
CA Astoria
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD Maury
DD Benham
DD Ellet
DD Dunlap
DD Fanning
DD Mahan
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Flusser
DD Porter
DD Balch

It’s not only Big E, it’s both Enterprise AND Lexington plus 6 cruisers and 13 destroyers!!!
This is going to be a big one...

[tomamars]

As the day breaks situation becomes more clear.
Distance between fleets is 5 hexes (aprox. 150 miles) and Japan has two CV fleets surrounding US CVs - Major one is one the west and consists of CVs Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku and Akagi plus 2 BBs, 2 CAs, 1 CL and 6 DDs. On the east stands lonely CV Kaga with 1 CA and 1 DD as escorts.
You can notice cloud formations above both of Japanese carrier groups, while there is clear sky over US force. This natural camouflage will play a major role in this day’s events.

[tomamars]

First strike belongs to Japan:

Morning Air attack on TF, near French Frigate Shoal at 166,104

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
B5N2 Kate x 42
D3A1 Val x 48

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 11
F4F-3A Wildcat x 9
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 10 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 3 destroyed
F4F-3A Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Northampton, Torpedo hits 2
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fanning
DD McCall, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Salt Lake City
DD Benham
CA Portland

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
16 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F2A-3 Buffalo (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
VF-6 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
VMF-211 Det with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes

Ammo storage explosion on CV Lexington
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD McCall
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington

Zeroes have punched a hole through the CAP with ease for the main strike package and not one US fighter made a contact with bomber force. This made their bombing runs fairly easy. Also overcast weather went in our favor so our hit ration was: for torpedoes 5 / 42 and for bombs 9 / 48, where almost all hits were on carriers.

Later packages did with mixed results and no fighter cover:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near French Frigate Shoal at 166,104

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 12

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 2
F4F-3A Wildcat x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 6 destroyed, 4 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Drayton
DD Porter

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
VMF-211 Det with F4F-3 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Raid is overhead
VF-2 with F2A-3 Buffalo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near French Frigate Shoal at 166,104

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 13

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 2
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CV Enterprise, on fire, heavy damage
CA Astoria, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk (!!!)

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-3A Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
VMF-211 Det with F4F-3 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near French Frigate Shoal at 166,104

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Portland
DD Drayton

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Enterprise

[tomamars]

In the end, Lex went under and Big E was badly damaged, not able to launch afternoon strike.
Luckily for CV Kaga, US strike went after our well defended western fleet but with no results to speak of:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 161,104

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 11
F4F-3A Wildcat x 14
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD-2 Dauntless x 27
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18
TBD-1 Devastator x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 8 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
CV Soryu
CV Hiryu
CV Shokaku
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CV Zuikaku

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
9 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
1 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes

[tomamars]

Poor US bomber crews had to fight BOTH huge Japanese CAP AND horrendous weather and results are bad - not one single hit on Japanese ships. Disappointed US crews could only fly back to their one remaining carrier and wait for inevitable Japanese afternoon strike. And it sure came:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near French Frigate Shoal at 166,104

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
B5N2 Kate x 67
D3A1 Val x 39

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Portland, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk (!!!)
CA Northampton, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Mahan
CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 1
DD Maury
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 1
CA Chester
DD Balch
DD Flusser
DD Dunlap
DD Lamson
DD Porter
CA Astoria, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
27 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
19 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Ammo storage explosion on CV Enterprise
Fuel storage explosion on CV Enterprise
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Northampton

With no US CAP and moderately bad weather, Japanese bomber crews had no problem sinking Big E and also paying some attention to US cruisers.