First CV battle and it's a doozy
Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 3:52 pm
I've been playing Scen 17 PBEM for a while now with several great and challenging oponents. I thought I would share one Carrier engagement with you. Let me set the stage. My oponenet is pretty good. We are playing 17, I'm Allied, him IJN. I kept my Carriers well south of his forces. He expertly took down Gili Gili and PM. I ws lucky to rescue much from PM before it fell. He also moved down the slot, took the 'canal and Nevea.. Placing Luganville under surface Bombardment. In July I performed a daring Carrier raid on Gili Gili, sinking two Japanese Battleships. Only weather saved my carriers as the made their was back from the coast of Australia to Nomea. His 9 Carriers suprised me but weather saved my carriers to fight another day. Over the next two weeks Luganville was hit byu a couple of Surfacxe task forces and pummeled by carriers borne planes. Finally Sara and Wasp showed up and I sailed North east behind Luganville for the next strike. I suffered horrible surface losses but I rushed my Carriers out for a showdown. I was hoping to break even.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/30/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Sub attack near Taivu at 39,40
Allied Ships
SS Grenadier
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
B-25D Mitchell x 6
B-26B Marauder x 22
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 5 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Hiei
DD Arashio
CL Jintsu
Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 68
TBD Devastator x 15
TBF Avenger x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 18 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 35 damaged
TBD Devastator x 7 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 9 damaged
TBF Avenger x 16 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 17 damaged
LTJG R.Akashiba of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Shokaku
CV Kaga
CV Soryu
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hiryu
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
A6M3 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 18
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 6 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 14 damaged
PO2 V.Kamihira of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
A6M3 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
SBD Dauntless x 80
TBD Devastator x 30
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 7 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 6 damaged
TBD Devastator x 5 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 5 damaged
CPO O.Kaneko of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Hiryu, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
A6M3 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
SBD Dauntless x 28
TBD Devastator x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged
TBD Devastator x 4 damaged
LTJG R.Nomura of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Kaga
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Hiryu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M3 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 3
no losses
no losses
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 49,52
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 104
A6M3 Zero x 16
D3A Val x 75
B5N Kate x 62
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 31
F4F-4 Wildcat x 131
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 54 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 4 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
D3A Val x 11 destroyed
D3A Val x 21 damaged
B5N Kate x 13 destroyed
B5N Kate x 24 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat x 27 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12 damaged
LTJG W. Woollen of VF-42 is credited with kill number 5
LTJG W. Woollen of VF-42 is KILLED
Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Louisville, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CL Achillies, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Perkins
CLAA Atlanta, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 49,52
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
D3A Val x 16
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 10 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
LTJG J. Banks of VF-2 is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Wasp, on fire, heavy damage
DD O'Brien, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 9
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 3
no losses
no losses
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Ryujo, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Shoho, on fire, heavy damage
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3
no losses
no losses
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, on fire, heavy damage
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 55
TBD Devastator x 20
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Shokaku, on fire
CA Atago, Bomb hits 2, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
SBD Dauntless x 21
TBF Avenger x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 5
B-25D Mitchell x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
LTJG J. Banks of VF-2 is credited with kill number 4
Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CV Kaga, on fire, heavy damage
CV Soryu, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Suzukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 24
SBD Dauntless x 60
TBD Devastator x 11
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
CA Atago, on fire
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagumo
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 49,52
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
D3A Val x 13
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 45
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
D3A Val x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 damaged
ENS H. Gibbs of VF-42 is credited with kill number 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 49,52
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 18
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 5 destroyed
B5N Kate x 3 damaged
LTJG E.Isaacs of VF-42 is credited with kill number 2
Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 49,52
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 8
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged
LTJG E.Isaacs of VF-42 is credited with kill number 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I got lucky in that I don't think my oponenet saw my carriers until too late and had CAP set low.. mainly worried about excorting his bombers on stikes at Luganville. In the Japanese Haymaker that sank Saratoga, Lexington and Wasp the Wildcats actually shot down more Zeros then they lost in Wildcats. All told none of the Japanese Carriers survived. My other carrier task force with Enterprise, Yorktown and Hornet survived unscathed. Now I face a rather up hill battle to regain territory I lost...
Jon
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/30/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Sub attack near Taivu at 39,40
Allied Ships
SS Grenadier
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
B-25D Mitchell x 6
B-26B Marauder x 22
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 5 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Hiei
DD Arashio
CL Jintsu
Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 68
TBD Devastator x 15
TBF Avenger x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 18 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 35 damaged
TBD Devastator x 7 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 9 damaged
TBF Avenger x 16 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 17 damaged
LTJG R.Akashiba of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Shokaku
CV Kaga
CV Soryu
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hiryu
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
A6M3 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 18
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 6 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 14 damaged
PO2 V.Kamihira of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
A6M3 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
SBD Dauntless x 80
TBD Devastator x 30
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 7 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 6 damaged
TBD Devastator x 5 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 5 damaged
CPO O.Kaneko of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Hiryu, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
A6M3 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
SBD Dauntless x 28
TBD Devastator x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged
TBD Devastator x 4 damaged
LTJG R.Nomura of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Kaga
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Hiryu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M3 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 3
no losses
no losses
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 49,52
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 104
A6M3 Zero x 16
D3A Val x 75
B5N Kate x 62
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 31
F4F-4 Wildcat x 131
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 54 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 4 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
D3A Val x 11 destroyed
D3A Val x 21 damaged
B5N Kate x 13 destroyed
B5N Kate x 24 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat x 27 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12 damaged
LTJG W. Woollen of VF-42 is credited with kill number 5
LTJG W. Woollen of VF-42 is KILLED
Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Louisville, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CL Achillies, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Perkins
CLAA Atlanta, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 49,52
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
D3A Val x 16
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 10 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
LTJG J. Banks of VF-2 is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Wasp, on fire, heavy damage
DD O'Brien, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 9
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 3
no losses
no losses
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Ryujo, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Shoho, on fire, heavy damage
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3
no losses
no losses
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, on fire, heavy damage
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 55
TBD Devastator x 20
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Shokaku, on fire
CA Atago, Bomb hits 2, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
SBD Dauntless x 21
TBF Avenger x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 5
B-25D Mitchell x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
LTJG J. Banks of VF-2 is credited with kill number 4
Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CV Kaga, on fire, heavy damage
CV Soryu, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Suzukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 24
SBD Dauntless x 60
TBD Devastator x 11
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
CA Atago, on fire
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagumo
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 49,52
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
D3A Val x 13
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 45
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
D3A Val x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 damaged
ENS H. Gibbs of VF-42 is credited with kill number 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 49,52
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 18
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 5 destroyed
B5N Kate x 3 damaged
LTJG E.Isaacs of VF-42 is credited with kill number 2
Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 49,52
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 8
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged
LTJG E.Isaacs of VF-42 is credited with kill number 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I got lucky in that I don't think my oponenet saw my carriers until too late and had CAP set low.. mainly worried about excorting his bombers on stikes at Luganville. In the Japanese Haymaker that sank Saratoga, Lexington and Wasp the Wildcats actually shot down more Zeros then they lost in Wildcats. All told none of the Japanese Carriers survived. My other carrier task force with Enterprise, Yorktown and Hornet survived unscathed. Now I face a rather up hill battle to regain territory I lost...
Jon