Turnaround? Lowpe (J) vs Tiemanj (A) Stock

[Mike Solli]

Geez o pete, Lowpe! Tell us what happened!

[Lowpe]

Commander Nakano, Flight Leader, looked out over the clear sky. About 200 planes comprised his strike force, but splinters had flown off south after several reported battleships.

But his group flew on, past besieged Singapore, a smoking, haze filled area of fire and death. Nakano was vectoring his strike on the enemy carriers. Two fleet carriers the patrol planes had reported, and the weather this morning was clear.

In the straits, there would be no place for the Allies to hide.

The strike force was in good shape, the fighters flying very close escort at 18K. Old Zeroes, and more modern Zekes but still they would be outclassed by every Allied fighter expected in the area. Jills, Kates, and Judies made up the striking force. Some planes had huge 800 kilogram ship killers on them, while others had the less powerful,but still potent 500 kilogram bomb.

Slowly, coming into view was the Allied fleet...1, no 2 carriers, at least one battleship, no it was the Renown a battle cruiser come back to haunt us from the early days of the war...signal attack; red attack for carriers! The eyes of the Emperor are upon us. Banzai!

Nakano, his job as flight leader done, turned his squadron of Jills to make an approach on the largest carrier following attack plan red, when a Zero on Nakano's port side suddenly erupted into a greasy black fireball, tracers arcing down thru and past the fireball.

Slashing in from the higher altitudes, out of the sun came the Allied protection. Fighters in large numbers and great diversity of planes: Lightnings, those twin tailed devils, Seafires, Warhawks, Wildcats, Mustangs, Corsairs, Hellcats and Spitfires.

Oh my.[X(]

[Mike Solli]

Well that helps a lot! [8|] Gee, thanks. [:D]

[Lowpe]

On the KB, some 120 miles to the east, flight operations listened to the radio of the terse commands being given out by the pilots of the strike force...when radar warned of advancing planes.

The Allies had launched a strike.[X(]

Captain Okada, task force commander, put his fleet into a defensive position, well aware this his fighter protection was very weak...

Rexes, Rufes, two Army planes and some early Zekes and even older Zeroes.

Oh my.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Well that helps a lot! [8|] Gee, thanks. [:D]

Don't mention it.[:D]

[Lowpe]

The splinter strike, south of Singers finds our old friend the Valiant.

Long time readers will recognize her...from 1942 and Cocos Island where Betties put three torpedoes into her. At the time we thought she was sunk and made no efforts to track her down and confirm the reported sinking.

Lost opportunities...

[Mike Solli]

Getting all twitchy over here. Trying to update my AAR and can't concentrate. [:'(]

[Mike Solli]

Well, that flight survived. Hope they have a flight deck to come back to. [:(]

[Lowpe]

Commander Nakano's Jill was thru, on approach, just above the water drawing nearer the largest enemy flattop.

The flak was murderous, but then so was the Allied fighters. The Japanese fighters sacrificed themselves so the bombers could get thru...

Dodging flak, bouncing from near misses the the Jill approached the carrier, now identified as the British light carrier Unicorn. She was smoking from a bomb hit, and soon she would be on the bottom her back broken by numerous torpedo hits.

Banzai!

[Mike Solli]

Banzai! [&o][&o][&o]

[Lowpe]

There is even more action, as a well coordinated strike flies from Hiroshima, despite the love they got from B29s the night before...

[Lowpe]

The strike on the Valiant captured forever!

[Lowpe]

Divine Wind....here a puny little Zero stuffed with explosives penetrates the flight deck over Shikoku.

[Lowpe]

Lumbering Helens fly and actually hit the Americans. Might be the first time they have ever hit anything...

[Lowpe]

At Kochi, the Allies are here to stay.

[Lowpe]

During the morning, the float fighters boost the CAP over the KB and only a few planes make actual bombing runs against the KB and they all miss except for one dud...scary moment there!

In the afternoon, bad weather rolls in playing total havoc with any potential strikes and grounding the float fighters.

Luckily the Zeroes and Zekes are up to the small strikes the Allies throw at the KB.

The five fleet carriers comprising the KB survive, for now.

[Lowpe]

In the afternoon, only one strike really finds anyone home...the hapless Renown takes some bitter 800 kg pills.

[ny59giants]

Out of the 90 plus Allied CVEs they get for the whole war, how many have you sunk??

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Out of the 90 plus Allied CVEs they get for the whole war, how many have you sunk??

Not enough.[:D]

Anyhow, he doesn't really need them anymore...I am pretty much pissing into the wind. Can't get a Koniu level strike here...

[Lowpe]

A closer look at the Unicorn. Nice name for a ship, btw.

If it were me, I wouldn't put this ship in harms way. Very slow, no armor and worth a lot of victory points.

But, since I am losing this game, don't listen to me you AFBs.[:D]