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The two taskforces that jointly comprise the DeathStar....they topped off planes from replacement squadrons (except for the Marines/Canadians/British squadrons. Some last minute changes to fleet composition not shown...

I am not a fan of Sherman, way too aggressive....but he has the stronger flak protection and more planes. Feel much better with John Henry Towers.

What's this? What's this?

Carrier TF 26 (Sherman) reacting to enemy carriers (range 6)
Carrier TF 374 (John Henry) reacting to enemy carriers (range 6)

Lowpe wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 11:06 pm What's this? What's this?

Carrier TF 26 (Sherman) reacting to enemy carriers (range 6)
Carrier TF 374 (John Henry) reacting to enemy carriers (range 6)

I don't handle suspense well!

Since his heavy surface ships were out of position, I expect that those enemy carriers are not KB ... "the world wonders"!

I would be very nervous about a possible night fight or bad weather day for a carrier task force that has only one CA and no BBs.

Good luck!

Is it appropriate to ask the prep of the marines?

Lowpe wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:00 pm And then, suddenly, it happens....elements of the 2nd Marines storm ashore...and take a fair bit of disablements. No report of the Portland shelling the beaches?

Is there resistance...not much is known....dawn landings...

b1.jpg

You're leaving us hanging here? Not cool, not cool.

Good luck. Fortune favors the bold and all that. I too tend to do the big invasion style of play. Your small ball approach is quite interesting.

Bigred: I think his Marine prep is pretty low, but probably good enough. Would even be better if he could drop a para battalion on Quinhon, although I'm not sure that's possible (maybe with Coronados or C-87s?).

Cheers,
CB

I woke up an hour early to continue the story....didn't even have the turn yesterday.

Resume music of your choice...

Lowpe wrote: Wed Mar 22, 2023 9:12 am I woke up an hour early to continue the story....didn't even have the turn yesterday.

Resume music of your choice...

Time - Inception

In the morning hours, while the 2nd Marine Division continued wading ashore at Quinhon....not a shot fired, by either the heavy warships, the jittery Marines, or even some flak guns hastily setup...they sky was full of patrolling Navy Wildcats and Hellcats, and even Canadian Sea Hurricanes. Avengers flew search patterns looking for Iboats...but the closest was spotted over 45 miles away and was Sherman's problem....

But in the Sulu and Celebes Seas it was a hectic search for Japanese Raiders....The light cruiser Yura raided Puerto Princesa and was fought off by Leander in a splendid night engagement. Yura, on fire, disappeared into the sporadic squalls...probably towards Luzon and the repair yards there. The 15th USN Naval Construction Regiment continued unloading across the shore...unmolested. Runway construction would begin.

More troops were unloaded at Tarakan, New Zealand AAA guns (a lot of them), while tanks were loading on Mindanao, ships assembling at Jolo, Desrons patrolling and Crusier squadrons protecting transports and ports along with PT Boat units...a whole lot of activity and none of it disrupted by the two IJN Raiding squadrons spotted...in addition to assault bombers patrolling both during the night and the day....

Japan has proven to be the master of long range CAP, consistently stopping our aerial reprisals...but we are adapting. Multiple airbase strikes, squadrons of fighters escorting one attack squadron, and even using older dive bombers (plentiful). Our pools of planes is strong and deep. Bombarding USN ships helps a bit too...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 75,94

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 12
N1K1-J George x 8
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 9
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 12
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 9

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 23
P-40K Warhawk x 23
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
SBD-3 Dauntless x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Natsugumo

Aircraft Attacking:
14 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
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
252 Ku S-1 with A6M5c Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 3000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 3000.
Raid is overhead
63rd Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 21000.
Raid is overhead
Yokosuka Ku S-2 with N1K1-J George (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 3000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 3000.
Raid is overhead
1st Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 3000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 3000.
Raid is overhead
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 3000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 3000.
Raid is overhead
203rd Sentai with Ki-43-IV Oscar (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 18000.
Raid is overhead
284 Ku S-1 Det A with A6M5c Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 3000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 3000.
Raid is overhead
Morning Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 75,94

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 6
N1K1-J George x 6
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 2
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 7
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 18
P-39D Airacobra x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Michishio
DD Natsugumo

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

CAP engaged:
252 Ku S-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 3000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 101 minutes
63rd Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Raid is overhead
Yokosuka Ku S-2 with N1K1-J George (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 3000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Raid is overhead
1st Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 3000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 123 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (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 3000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 115 minutes
203rd Sentai with Ki-43-IV Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 144 minutes
284 Ku S-1 Det A with A6M5c 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 3000 , scrambling fighters to 19190.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Kuma

Having difficulty in keeping up with recon all of the IJ bases...no recon on Manado today for example. Mainly I don't check it each day and end up getting tired doing the turn and leave a hole.

I have three battleships in two SAGs ready to respond to the Yamato...which I figured had good odds of arriving at Ambon. But our subs in the area had very low DL, and I would much rather put a fish into the Yamato's stern by sub, than get into a slugfest with her.

One hex closer and the Avengers would have flown...

Still the morning....the 2nd Marine Division is making great progress...the 1st Australian Paratroopers reporting no resistance -- celebrations and flowers in the streets...but the first IJN air strike of the day occurs fairly late in the morning....and targets the fast invasion fleet.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Quinhon at 65,69

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 65
B6N1 Jill x 45
D4Y1 Judy x 65

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 24
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31
F6F-3 Hellcat x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 4 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 6 destroyed, 6 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 3 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 19 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Copahee
CVE Nassau, Bomb hits 1
CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Sangamon
BB Pennsylvania, Torpedo hits 1
BB Arizona
APA Callaway

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
5 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
5 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
5 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-71 with F6F-3 Hellcat (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 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 15 on standby, 9 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
VRF-2F with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 14 on standby, 7 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 6 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes

Fuel storage explosion on CVE Suwannee
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Suwannee

Our CAP, provided by CVEs was out of position, but thankfully the warning provided by radar was sufficient...and the Sea Hurricanes of the Canadians did stellar work. I wonder if it was the poor Air leadership, since the CVEs were embedded into the Amphibious task force led by Naval commander with no good air rating....something to ponder.

Suwannee was using Avengers, neglected to swap them out for fighters...which would have made a difference.

Sea Hurricanes: 80% Escort, Range 0, Rest 10%, Alt 5k
Hellcats: 80% Escort, Range 0, Rest 10%, Alt 10k
Wildcats: 80% Escort, Range 0, Rest 10%, Alt 17k

I will have to watch the replay to get the timing of Towers reaction to the Carriers....but for whenever it happens, John Henry surges forward to protect the landings...while a second strike comes in but radar provides a great warning, only the Hellcats can't get entirely into position.


Morning Air attack on TF, near Quinhon at 65,69

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 49 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 57
B5N2 Kate x 9

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 20
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28
F6F-3 Hellcat x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 10 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 9 scrambling)
16 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-2F with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers

Flying the high CAP, at 17K the Wildcats get over 40 confirmed kills....but one CVE is burning brightly....can she survive the afternoon...the Marines ashore looks anxiously at the sky worried for their friends still unloading...

The first strike of the afternoon, finds John Henry Towers CV group...they rushed forward to protect the landings...taking advantage of a local storm front and the Hellcats pounce out of the clouds, joined by British Martlets and more Wildcats.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Quinhon at 67,68

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 57
B6N1 Jill x 35
D4Y1 Judy x 71

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 16
F4F-4 Wildcat x 42
F6F-3 Hellcat x 92

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 12 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 9 destroyed, 8 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 2 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 25 destroyed, 5 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 5 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga
CV Victorious
CV Hornet

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
2 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
2 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 18 on standby, 9 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
VF-8 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 18 on standby, 10 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
21 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 6 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 5 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 4 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 3000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
VMF-123 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-215 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers

Victorious has impressive AAA for this stage of the game...

Due to long flight times, the report come in from a morning attack by Assault Bombers on IJN warships east of Legaspi...the P38s can't coordinate or Air Controllers detect no enemy fighters...only four planes link up on the long strike.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Legaspi at 86,82

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
DD Naganami
BB Kongo
CL Tenryu

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
This strike is followed up by an afternoon attack:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Legaspi at 85,83

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 7
DD Yuzuki

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Aftermath, Quinhon is ours...but the IJN Surface ships are threatening!

Buckle up True Believers....the ride isn't over yet!

Butcher's Bill for the day:

LRPs are foiled...but perhaps we can hold out for a day. Activity on this front just got turned on...air attacks, bombardments, will be pressing to open the Burma road.

Decision Time!