Miracle at Gili Gili
Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2002 9:54 am
less than a week into the conflict, the IJN has sent a invasion force to Gili Gili.. having nothing substantial to stop a determined attack with, and wishing to husband my forces for a fight with better odds, I sent a Sub to hide in the harbor, the Sub put a torp into an AP.
The next day what do my pilots find at Gili Gili guarding the AP force? the 1st IJN Carrier Group!!!
The B-24, Havocs, and P-39s take off on a one way mission to certain death, the IJN CAP over the carriers was fair and cleaned out half my force on the way in, Flak got the rest.
Later in the afternoon the remnants of my air forces at Port Moresby launched another strike on the IJN Carrier TF. (I was rather angry about this seeing how badly my attack had been mauled earlier..). The bombers managed to get past the CAP and drill the Shokaku for a minor damage, the Shoho was not as lucky as she took multiple hits, and is now burning very nicely indeed! The Zuikaku is still virgin, but I will gladly trade a handful of inexperienced pilots and obsolete planes for damage on the Shoho sure to put her in the drydock, and a moral victory on Shokaku!!!
While I am still unable to operate in the Coral Sea easily due to IJN Carriers, at least it is now a no mans land and Mr. Burton has to watch his 6 as well. What a nice little wrinkle to toss in so early on!
The next day what do my pilots find at Gili Gili guarding the AP force? the 1st IJN Carrier Group!!!
The B-24, Havocs, and P-39s take off on a one way mission to certain death, the IJN CAP over the carriers was fair and cleaned out half my force on the way in, Flak got the rest.
Later in the afternoon the remnants of my air forces at Port Moresby launched another strike on the IJN Carrier TF. (I was rather angry about this seeing how badly my attack had been mauled earlier..). The bombers managed to get past the CAP and drill the Shokaku for a minor damage, the Shoho was not as lucky as she took multiple hits, and is now burning very nicely indeed! The Zuikaku is still virgin, but I will gladly trade a handful of inexperienced pilots and obsolete planes for damage on the Shoho sure to put her in the drydock, and a moral victory on Shokaku!!!
While I am still unable to operate in the Coral Sea easily due to IJN Carriers, at least it is now a no mans land and Mr. Burton has to watch his 6 as well. What a nice little wrinkle to toss in so early on!