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I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread tracking the ability of CAP over CV's to intercept strikes. This stems from some ongoing discussion in teh AAR section. I would ask that as many players as possible could post the combat reports of any CV battles that occur. I would ask that the following information be included:

1. Combat Report Text
2. Percent of fighters on CAP
3. Altitude of fighters
4. % of damaged a/c after the battle
5. ANy mitigating circumstances (flight deck damage, low sorties, etc)

It would be great if both sides could post their results in any PBEM games. Also I would ask that this thread be as limited as possible to just data. That way we can have a running tally of raw data for teh Devs to look at.

Hi

i began to make a serie of tests.
If the AE team is interested, i can do more before my vacation.

So, here are the first 4; it is on the Coral sea scenario;
a classical CV battles between the 2 big jap CV and the 2 CV US.


All fighters in CAP 90%

Zero at 15000
Val at 10000
Kate at 9000

Wildcat at 10000
SBD at 10000
TBD at 5000



* First test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,138

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 35



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 7 damaged (most by Flak)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged (most by Flak)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
CA Chester, Bomb hits 1
DD Hammann
CA Portland, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 1
DD Morris, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 42


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged (most by Flak)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2
CA Haguro



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2
CV Zuikaku



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (17 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
17 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (16 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
16 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead





* Second test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,138

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 31



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed, 10 damaged (Kills by Flak only)
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged (Kills by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 3
CA Minneapolis
CA Chicago
DD Phelps
DD Aylwin
DD Anderson
DD Hammann, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
16 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 56


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 15 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Shokaku
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,138

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 27
D3A1 Val x 38



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 33


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged (2 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged (1 Val killed by fighters)


Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 5, on fire
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chicago
CA Minneapolis
CA Portland
DD Anderson



Aircraft Attacking:
16 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
21 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
14 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
22 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (1 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 33


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 16 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Shokaku



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers


For this test, only 3 planes shot down by fighters.



* Third test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 111,138

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 15
D3A1 Val x 35



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged (Kills by Flak only)
D3A1 Val: 14 damaged (by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Phelps
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1
DD Aylwin



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
23 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
22 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 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 26 minutes
13 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 56


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 23 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Shokaku



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
19 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 111,138

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 12



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 24


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged (Kills by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CV Yorktown
CV Lexington, on fire



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

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 111,138

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 12



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 21


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged (3 Kate killed by fighters)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, on fire



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

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 111,138

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
D3A1 Val x 31



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 13 damaged (Kills by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, on fire
CA Chester, Bomb hits 1
CA Minneapolis
CV Yorktown
CA Portland
CA New Orleans



Aircraft Attacking:
15 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
16 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied CV


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 22


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 19 damaged (by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CV Zuikaku
DD Ushio
DD Shigure



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku


Once more, only 3 planes shot down by fighters during the fourth raid AM.





* Fourth test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 41
TBD-1 Devastator x 12


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged (Kills by Flak only)
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
11 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 106,135

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 24



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 11 damaged (2 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed (1 Wildcat killed by fighters)

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1
CA Chester
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires
DD Morris
CA Portland



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (2 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 109,131

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15
TBD-1 Devastator x 12


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AV Kiyokawa Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Seikai Maru
CL Tatsuta



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Tenryu
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AV Kiyokawa Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 48
TBD-1 Devastator x 16


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed (1 Wildat killed by fighters)
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 25 damaged (Kills by Flak only)
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 damaged (by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yugure
CA Haguro
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Akebono
CA Myoko
DD Ushio
DD Ariake



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
4 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
12 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 13 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 106,135

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 25
D3A1 Val x 18



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 32


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed, 12 damaged (Kills by Flak only)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged (Kills by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Dewey



Aircraft Attacking:
18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
15 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (1 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 58 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington


So, only 4 planes shot down by fighters this turn.

Thanks for posting that. Makes for interesting reading.

CAP seems to be rather useless...

indeed, historiker.

historiker and me had our first carrier battle in coral sea (i play the allied) and this are the results:

my wildcats were set at 17-19k because of the better preformance in this alt..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 06, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Milne Bay  at 104,132

Japanese Ships
     CVL Shoho
     DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
     SS S-44, hits 3



SS S-44 launches 4 torpedoes at CVL Shoho
S-44 diving deep ....
DD Sazanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sazanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sazanami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Sazanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Milne Bay  at 104,132

Japanese Ships
     AO Toho Maru, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire

Allied Ships
     SS S-47



SS S-47 is sighted by AO Toho Maru
SS S-47 launches 4 torpedoes


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Milne Bay  at 103,133

Japanese Ships
     DD Yayoi
     DD Mutsuki
     E Asanagi
     E Oite

Allied Ships
     SS S-47, hits 5



SS S-47 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Yayoi
DD Yayoi attacking submerged sub ....
DD Mutsuki attacking submerged sub ....
E Asanagi fails to find sub and abandons search
E Oite fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yayoi fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Mutsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mutsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mutsuki attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 98,139

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 35
     B5N1 Kate x 4
     B5N2 Kate x 28
     D3A1 Val x 30



Allied aircraft
     F4F-3 Wildcat x 21


Japanese aircraft losses
     B5N1 Kate: 3 damaged
     B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
     D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged


Allied Ships
     CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 4
     CA Chester, Bomb hits 2
     CA Astoria
     CA Portland



Aircraft Attacking:
     18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb,  2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
     16 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
     12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb,  2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
     11 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
      4 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 12000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 102,136

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A5M4 Claude x 2
     A6M2 Zero x 37



Allied aircraft
     F4F-3 Wildcat x 19
     SBD-3 Dauntless x 66
     TBD-1 Devastator x 24


Japanese aircraft losses
     A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed
     A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
     SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged
     TBD-1 Devastator: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
     CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 5,  heavy fires
     DD Sazanami, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
     CA Aoba, Bomb hits 5,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 5,  on fire,  heavy damage
     CA Kinugasa
     CA Kako, Bomb hits 3,  on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
     16 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
     16 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
     12 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
              Naval Attack:  2 x 500 lb AP Bomb
     17 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
     12 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
              Naval Attack:  2 x 500 lb AP Bomb
     17 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
Tainan Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
     7 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
EIII-1 Chutai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
EIII-2 Chutai with A5M4 Claude (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000
     Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese CA
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Kako
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Sazanami


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 98,139

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 29
     B5N2 Kate x 25
     D3A1 Val x 33



Allied aircraft
     F4F-3 Wildcat x 19


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
     B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
     D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged


Allied Ships
     CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
     CA Portland, Bomb hits 5
     CA Chester, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CA Astoria, Bomb hits 6,  heavy fires
     CA Chicago



Aircraft Attacking:
     15 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb,  2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
      8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
     18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb,  2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
     15 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 14000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 19000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 102,136

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 31



Allied aircraft
     F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
     SBD-3 Dauntless x 63
     TBD-1 Devastator x 21


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
     SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged
     TBD-1 Devastator: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
     CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 6,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 3,  heavy fires
     CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1
     DD Yugure, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
     DD Akebono
     DD Shigure
     CA Haguro, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
     DD Ushio
     DD Shiratsuyu



Aircraft Attacking:
     15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
     14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
     11 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
              Naval Attack:  2 x 500 lb AP Bomb
     17 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
     17 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
     10 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
              Naval Attack:  2 x 500 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
Tainan Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000
     Raid is overhead
EIII-1 Chutai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000
     Raid is overhead
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Yugure
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku

imho the uber-CAP in stocks was not a good thing (i remember a massiv carrier raid consisting 700 fighters and bombers and historikers 350 hellcats and corsairs shooting down 650 of the attackers without any hit on his CV) but this CAP is simply too weak and needs a little bit tweaking.

maybe its a problem with the smaller scenarios. in other AARs i read about the KB CAP defensing the carriers very well against strikes out of PH in turn 1.

An other serie of 3 tests: only one difference: the Wildcat's altitude set to 20000 instead of 10000.

All fighters in CAP 90%

Zero at 15000
Val at 10000
Kate at 9000

Wildcat at 20000
SBD at 10000
TBD at 5000



* First test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 110,138

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 31



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged (1 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged (Kills by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Bomb hits 2
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Chicago
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
7 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
11 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 56


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed (1 Zero killed by fighters)

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Haguro
DD Ushio



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
24 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku


So, 2 planes shot down by fighters in 2 raids only.




* Second test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 43


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed (1 Zero killed by fighters)

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 12 damaged (by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Shokaku
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Ushio
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ariake, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
22 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Ariake


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 106,139

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 12
D3A1 Val x 24



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed (1 Zero killed by fighters)
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged (2 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged (kills by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1
CA Minneapolis
CA Portland, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 13


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged (kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, on fire
CA Haguro, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 106,139

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 12



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 29


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 10 damaged (by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA New Orleans
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 1



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

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 106,139

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 68 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 25



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed, 15 damaged (kills by Flak only)

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 1
CA Chester
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Astoria, Torpedo hits 1
CA Chicago
DD Phelps
CA Portland



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


Ho, 4 planes shot down by fighters today, great.





* Third test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 42


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 17 damaged (kills by Flak only)


Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Haguro



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 113,138

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 68 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
B5N2 Kate x 39
D3A1 Val x 19



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed, 15 damaged (3 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged (kills by Flak only)



Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 3
DD Dewey
CA Chester, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Portland, Bomb hits 3
CA Astoria



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
15 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
19 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 9 damaged (by Flak only)


Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, on fire
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (8 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku


3 planes shot down by fighters today.


This is a deception for me; CAP has nearly no interest, especially the jap's one which managed only to shoot down 1 Wildcat in 7 tests.

Now, i am going to simulate bigger battle.

CAP has nearly no interest

Indeed. It doesn't seem to matter whether there's CAP or not. The only thing that has a little impact is the total lack of escorts against a strong cap. Instead of getting butchered (like the US TBs at Midway), the attacker then looses 2 or 3 planes and the rest gets throug

I made a fantasy test: i gave a big US radar to the japanese CV (the SCR-270 AS Radar: range=208km).
My intention was to see if it could help the jap CAP to be a little bit better.

The answer is NO.

I did 2 tests; i let you see yourselves the results.


All fighters in CAP 90%

Zero at 15000
Val at 10000
Kate at 9000

Wildcat at 20000
SBD at 10000
TBD at 5000

(same as before)



* First test:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,138

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 12
D3A1 Val x 24



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 36


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged(Kills by Flak only)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged(Kills by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chester, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires
CA Astoria
DD Hammann, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (8 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
21 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (1 airborne, 12 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
16 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Chester


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 26


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed (Kills by Flak only)
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 17 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 13 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 19


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yugure
CA Myoko
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Shiratsuyu



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Junyo class CV
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Haguro


No planes lost by fighter this turn.




* Second test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 63 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 54


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 20 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

what is the interest of a great radar?? 40 fighters in interception and no kills

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2
CA Haguro
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ariake
DD Yugure



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 13 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
23 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
19 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 110,138

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
D3A1 Val x 12



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 34


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged (2 Val killed by fighters)


Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 2
CA Chester



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 58 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 110,138

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 16
D3A1 Val x 33



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 34


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged (1 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged (1 Val killed by fighters)


Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 6, on fire
CA Chester, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Perkins, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Anderson
DD Morris
DD Hammann, Bomb hits 1
CA Chicago
CA Astoria



Aircraft Attacking:
17 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
15 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(17 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (1 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 21


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 13 damaged(by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku, heavy fires
CA Myoko
DD Ushio
DD Shiratsuyu



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 13 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
15 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku


4 planes lost by fighters.



You should notice that no jap fighter managed to shoot down at least 1 US plane, even with a radar that has a range of more than 200 km.
What can i do to give both side a correct CAP??

I'd love to see another data point in your tests: whether the target had radar or not.

An other fantasy test to try to understand:
i removed the radar on jap CV but i gave a great boost for the Zero:
max speed is increased from 331 to 431.


All fighters in CAP 90%

Zero at 15000
Val at 10000
Kate at 9000

Wildcat at 20000
SBD at 10000
TBD at 5000

(same as before)



* First test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 58
TBD-1 Devastator x 12


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 13 damaged (Kills by Flak only)
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

No effect

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1
DD Shigure
CV Shokaku
CA Myoko



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
11 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 107,137

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 12



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 10 damaged (1 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 6 damaged (by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2
CA Minneapolis
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
DD Phelps



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
12 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (2 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 107,137

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 15
D3A1 Val x 35



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged (1 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged (3 Val killed by fighters)

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed (1 Wildcat killed by fighters)

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Astoria



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
20 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (5 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
24 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 34
TBD-1 Devastator x 19


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 17 damaged (by Flak only)
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 damaged (by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1
DD Yugure, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Shiratsuyu, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
DD Ariake
DD Ushio



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
12 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Yugure
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Shiratsuyu


6 planes lost by fighters this turn but there is absolutely no effect on jap CAP which remains
inefficient.




* Second test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 44


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed (Kills by Flak only)
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 16 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

a very stange thing: during nearly all US raid on jap CV, some planes are destroyed during the
dogfight routine BY FLAK; this is the case here for the Wildcat

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires
DD Yugure
DD Ushio



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 111,138

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 12



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 9 damaged (1 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed (1 Wildcat killed by fighters)

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
CA Chicago
DD Hammann



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
11 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
13 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

even without any escort, the bombers get through the CAP

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, heavy fires
DD Ariake
CA Haguro



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (18 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
18 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 111,138

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
B5N2 Kate x 16
D3A1 Val x 21



Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged (Kills by Flak only)
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged (by Flak only)

Allied aircraft losses

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Astoria, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CA Minneapolis
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 1
DD Aylwin



Aircraft Attacking:
21 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
16 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied CV


so high max speed is not the solution







Now, back to original max speed for the Zero (331) and i increase its cruise speed
(from 207 to 307)

Only one test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,138

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 12
D3A1 Val x 30



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged (Kills by Flak only)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged (1 Val killed by fighters)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 8, on fire
CA Astoria
CA Chester, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
11 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 29


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed (1 Wildcat killed by fighters)
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Shokaku



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
18 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
24 planes vectored on to bombers


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CA Haguro



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,138

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
D3A1 Val x 34



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged (2 Val killed by fighters)


Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 1
CA Portland, Bomb hits 2
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 2
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chester



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers



There is no difference





Now, back to original cruise speed for the Zero (207) and i increase its climb rate
(from 2640 to 4640)

Only one test:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,138

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 35
D3A1 Val x 27



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 34


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 15 damaged (2 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged (Kills by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires
CA Portland, Bomb hits 9, heavy fires
CA Chester, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Astoria
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Chicago



Aircraft Attacking:
18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
9 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
20 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 42


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Yugure
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Ariake



Aircraft Attacking:
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, on fire
CV Shokaku, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,138

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 12



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 32


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged (2 Val killed by fighters)


Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (16 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
16 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (16 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
16 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,138

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
B5N2 Kate x 10
D3A1 Val x 15



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged (Kills by Flak only)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Allied Ships
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 1
CA New Orleans
CA Chicago
CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Minneapolis
CV Lexington, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Lexington class CV


4 jap planes shot down by fighters


Conclusion: even a CAP with better Zero (enhanced max speed or cruise speed or climb rate)
doesn't do anything against US raids
and the US CAP managed only to kill a couple of jap plane each round, that's all

My observation is: In the Campaign, all land based CAP works fine with absolutly reasonable results - great!
But playing Coral Sea, it was as if there wasn't even a CAP on both sides even with different altitudes.


Did we do something wrong? Should we do something different to make the CAP work or is this really something that has to be fixed? I don't want to cry out immeately "This is flawed" as long as I'm not even sure what I'm talking about...

ORIGINAL: Historiker

My observation is: In the Campaign, all land based CAP works fine with absolutly reasonable results - great!
But playing Coral Sea, it was as if there wasn't even a CAP on both sides even with different altitudes.


Did we do something wrong? Should we do something different to make the CAP work or is this really something that has to be fixed? I don't want to cry out immeately "This is flawed" as long as I'm not even sure what I'm talking about...

I agree with you. The land based CAP works better but in the Coral Sea scenario there is no efective CAP. See my post on the same subject:

tm.asp?m=2188124

Hi all,

Guys, before we all "jump to conclusions" - what were the historic Coral Sea battle CAP losses?


Leo "Apolo11"

What about the Grand Campaign? Is anyone seeing results like this in that Scenario?

Rominet, I'd be interested to see your results if you detached the same IJN CVs from Kido Butai and sailed them toward the US CVs that start near Wake.

I want to see if the results you have posted to this point might be scenario driven.

ORIGINAL: TheElf

What about the Grand Campaign? Is anyone seeing results like this in that Scenario?

Rominet, I'd be interested to see your results if you detached the same IJN CVs from Kido Butai and sailed them toward the US CVs that start near Wake.

I want to see if the results you have posted to this point might be scenario driven.

So far, I didn't have any CV batlles there. On the other hand, the 6 Buffaloes over the Force Z were able to shoot down about 16 Bettys and Nells in a number of attacks ranging from 0 shot down to 6. Fine results IMO.


@Apollo 11
That's why I'm asking. I doubt the testers haven't realized this. Either it is intended - and a clarification would be usefull then - or my opponent and me did something wrong or witnessed a number of strange dice rolls in a row.

ORIGINAL: TheElf

What about the Grand Campaign? Is anyone seeing results like this in that Scenario?

Rominet, I'd be interested to see your results if you detached the same IJN CVs from Kido Butai and sailed them toward the US CVs that start near Wake.

I want to see if the results you have posted to this point might be scenario driven.

Hi

So if i understood well, you suggest me to make the same type of tests but in the grand campaign scenario.

Ok, i will do but it will takes me more time.

I posted this in the main forum but wanted to also repost it here:


We're keeping an eye on the CAP results, but I had to chime in here as the above data does not correspond to what I've read. I'm not one of the subject matter experts on the team, but I'm as well read as most players on this subject.

Taking a look at the battle based on my info, let's look at the main Japanese strike on the US carriers. The Japanese sent 70 attack planes and 20 fighters, the US TF picked them up on radar 68 miles away, but only three US fighters succeeded in intercepting them before the attack on Lexington and Yorktown. Fighter direction was in its early stages of development. Lexington was controlling the CAP, which consisted of 17 fighters in the air. Here's some commentary from Admiral Frederick C. Sherman, then the Captain in command of Lexington:

"The single, early model radar we had on board picked up the enemy aircraft at a distance of 68 miles, but gave no indication of their altitude. On those old radars, it was also difficult to distinguish friendly from enemy planes. We felt that if our fighters were sent far out on interception, they might miss the contact, owing to differences in altitude and thus be wasted. We were also influenced by the belief that the torpedo planes represented the greater hazard and that they would come in low. Accordingly, we kept our fighters close in overhead, at 10,000 feet, ready to attack when the enemy groups arrived at their "push-over" point"." ... "It must be remembered that this was the first carrier duel in history, and we were learning our tactics by experience."

Those fighters that did intercept tangled with the Zeros and while he notes a few zeros shot down, they could not stop any of the dive bombers or torpedo bombers according to his account.

This is just a quick lookup here, I have not gone into depth to research the battle losses, but if you read this account I think you'll get an idea of what early war CAP performance is intended to represent.

Does this happen when LBA attacks CV forces too? What about Nell or Betty unescorted strikes?

If I am to follow Erik, on that point, one just has to check what happen to the 4th group rikko attack against the Lexington on February 20, 1942 - and we're talking about twin engine bombers here. History shows that a lot of different situations could very well happen - but apparently so far in the testings when it comes to Naval aviation, we're only witnessing one kind, not the other one...

Ok, these are my last tests on this scenario "Coral sea".
As suggested by the Elf, the following tests will occur in the Grand campaign scenario;

I am back with the vanilla "Coral sea" scenario and i want to see the influence of altitude;
i will modify the altitude of Jap CAP because it is this one which is not efficient.


All fighters in CAP 90%

Val at 10000
Kate at 9000

Wildcat at 20000
SBD at 10000
TBD at 5000

(same as before)





* First test:

Zero at 25000


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 07, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 106,138

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 33



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 38


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged (1 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged (Kills by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 5, on fire
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 5
CA Minneapolis, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Aylwin, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1
CA Chester
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 3, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
12 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
21 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 13 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
13 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (5 airborne, 12 on standby, 2 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
13 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Aylwin


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 109,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 30


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 17 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku



Aircraft Attacking:
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
16 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 109,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 damaged (by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (17 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
17 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 106,138

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 30
D3A1 Val x 35



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 33


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 16 damaged (Kills by Flak only)
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged (1 Val killed by fighters)

Allied aircraft losses

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CA Minneapolis, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 1
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CA Portland
DD Aylwin, on fire, heavy damage
DD Phelps
CA Chester, Torpedo hits 2
DD Dewey, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
16 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
16 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
14 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
19 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Aylwin


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 109,133

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 34


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 15 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Haguro
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
15 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku


As we can see, the Jap CAP remains non-exitent







* Second test:


Zero at 20000


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 07, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,139

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 23
D3A1 Val x 24



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 36


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 11 damaged (2 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged (3 Val killed by fighters)


Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Portland
CA Astoria
CV Lexington
CA Chester
CA Chicago
CA New Orleans
DD Morris



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
11 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 13 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 109,133

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 58


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 23 damaged (Kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires
DD Akebono
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,139

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 12



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 34


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged (by Flak only)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington



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

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (18 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
18 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (16 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
16 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,139

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 25
D3A1 Val x 31



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 19


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 14 damaged (kills by Flak only)
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed, 18 damaged (3 Val killed by fighters)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CA Chester
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 1
CA New Orleans



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 109,133

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 10


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged (kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CA Myoko



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
15 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers


oops, 8 jap planes shot down by fighters, that was not my intention but what about Jap CAP, nothing





* Third test:

Zero at 15000


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 07, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 109,139

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 39



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 36


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 14 damaged (2 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed, 9 damaged (2 Val killed by fighters)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires
CA Chester, Bomb hits 4
CA Minneapolis
CA New Orleans
DD Perkins
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 6, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
19 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 13 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
15 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 109,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 58


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 19 damaged (kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 3
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CA Myoko



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 109,139

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 28



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 21 damaged (by Flak only)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged (kills by Flak only)

Allied Ships
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 3
CA New Orleans
CA Minneapolis, Bomb hits 1
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Chester



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
15 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
15 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo



Jap CAP remains incredible









* Fourth test:


1 Zero group at 10000 to match SBD altitude
1 Zero group at 5000 to match TBD altitude (in fact, there is no TBD attack)


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 06, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,138

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 39
D3A1 Val x 39



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 36


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed, 20 damaged (4 Kate killed by fighters)
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged (2 Val killed by fighters)


Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Chester
DD Hammann
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 3
CA Portland
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CA Chicago
CA Minneapolis, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Perkins



Aircraft Attacking:
18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
20 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
21 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 13 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
19 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 43


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged (kills by Flak only)

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Myoko
DD Shigure
DD Ariake



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
15 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 108,138

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 19
D3A1 Val x 18



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged (kills by Flak only)
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged (by Flak only)

Allied Ships
CA Portland
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 4
CA New Orleans
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Phelps, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
7 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo



If the US CAP seems nearly realistic, what about Jap CAP?? In all these tests, Zero didn't managed to kill at least 1 enemy plane

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

I posted this in the main forum but wanted to also repost it here:


We're keeping an eye on the CAP results, but I had to chime in here as the above data does not correspond to what I've read. I'm not one of the subject matter experts on the team, but I'm as well read as most players on this subject.

Taking a look at the battle based on my info, let's look at the main Japanese strike on the US carriers. The Japanese sent 70 attack planes and 20 fighters, the US TF picked them up on radar 68 miles away, but only three US fighters succeeded in intercepting them before the attack on Lexington and Yorktown. Fighter direction was in its early stages of development. Lexington was controlling the CAP, which consisted of 17 fighters in the air. Here's some commentary from Admiral Frederick C. Sherman, then the Captain in command of Lexington:

"The single, early model radar we had on board picked up the enemy aircraft at a distance of 68 miles, but gave no indication of their altitude. On those old radars, it was also difficult to distinguish friendly from enemy planes. We felt that if our fighters were sent far out on interception, they might miss the contact, owing to differences in altitude and thus be wasted. We were also influenced by the belief that the torpedo planes represented the greater hazard and that they would come in low. Accordingly, we kept our fighters close in overhead, at 10,000 feet, ready to attack when the enemy groups arrived at their "push-over" point"." ... "It must be remembered that this was the first carrier duel in history, and we were learning our tactics by experience."

Those fighters that did intercept tangled with the Zeros and while he notes a few zeros shot down, they could not stop any of the dive bombers or torpedo bombers according to his account.

This is just a quick lookup here, I have not gone into depth to research the battle losses, but if you read this account I think you'll get an idea of what early war CAP performance is intended to represent.

Hi

I gave you the datas of my history book; perhaps, these datas are not correct but however, it seems to me a little bit strange that CAP (especially JAP's one) is so unable to shoot down enemy planes.
In fiveteen or twenty tests, the jap CAP was only able to shoot down 1 Wildcat and this CAP is always of 35-40 Zeros.
Is it normal???
What is the interest of this CAP in this situation??
Is there a hidden calculus which bothers the precision of bombardment when many fighters are in CAP,
even when there are no kills?