Took the risk and lost?
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:22 am
I have been playing Scenario number 17 against the AI. It has been a while since I played so I have been trying to relearn how to play this great game. I was able to initially turn the push against PM but lost Buna and GG to the Japanese AI. I also traded heavy damage to the Lady Lex and the Yorktown for sinking the Zuik, Shukako. Since that time period I ran an extra base force up to PM and based all the B-25s and B-26's out of there. Since then I have been tearing up the AI's transports with that LBA out of PM. On top of that I have effectively shut down Lae. The only time that the AI raids PM is when he spots one of the 4 different convoys that I run into the area. I finally got a force of Aussies to march overland from PM to recapture Buna after bombing the heck out of them for about 3 weeks straight with the A-24 and A-20 squadron. I also been running a bombardment force into GG and bombing them with the B-17's since the AI captured GG. I had to send the Lex and Yorktown back to pearl since they suffered just over 50 points of damage after Fletcher raced north to attack a carrier force and was caught by them a raid by the AI carrier force and Rabual bombers. It was timed perfectly, with in hours of bombing by the Japanese Navy their LBA gets me and was able to blown through the meager Cap and put a couple good torpedos into both carriers. That took me up to June of 42. I recieve the Hornet and Enterprise. I used them to raid the base at GG and give my aircrews experience. I have also been using my mobile mines to patrol along known routes and been using them to just scare the living daylights out of the Japanese Merchant Marine. Between my LBA out of PM and my subs I have sunk just over 15 merchants, and gotten lucky to put some holes into a couple cruisers.
Anyhow, it is now the 24th of July 42. I now have th Sara and the Wasp (which has TBF's instead of TBD's [:)]). Went to raid Shortland, since I had been getting reports of a bunch of AP's there and since the AI hasn't seem to try and capture Lunga or Tuligi. I hung around there starting around the 18th and been darting into range for a day and then pulling south for out of range on a day. Well the AI must of finally gotten sick of it cause I got reports from my PBY's that there was a CV up near Buka on the 23. I found him and found the Akagi, Junyo, Rujyo, Zuiho, Kaga, operating together. Ran into range and attacked. This is the fallout:
Morning Strike
Air attack on TF at 30,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
A6M3 Zero x 26
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 32
SBD Dauntless x 78
TBD Devastator x 28
TBF Avenger x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 10 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 20 damaged
TBD Devastator x 20 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 11 damaged
TBF Avenger x 6 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 8 damaged
PO2 K.Kamisaka of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
CA Tone, Bomb hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 30,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
A6M3 Zero x 14
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 27
TBD Devastator x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 5 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
TBD Devastator x 5 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 9 damaged
PO2 B.Banno of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4
LCDR S. Itaya of AI-1 Daitai is KILLED
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Kaga, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 7
B5N Kate x 13
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 95
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 18 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
LTJG H. Mitchell of VF-6 is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
CV Wasp
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
A6M3 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 56
B5N Kate x 63
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 44
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 8 destroyed
D3A Val x 4 damaged
B5N Kate x 20 destroyed
B5N Kate x 19 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 destroyed
ENS V.Lange of VF-71 is credited with kill number 2
Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 15, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CA Northampton, Torpedo hits 1
DD Bagley
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 1
CA Indianapolis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Grayson, Bomb hits 1, on fire
_____________________________
Afternoon Strikes
Air attack on TF at 30,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3 Zero x 22
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
SBD Dauntless x 37
TBD Devastator x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 5 damaged
TBD Devastator x 2 destroyed
LT R. Gray of VF-8 is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Takao
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 30,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3 Zero x 10
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
SBD Dauntless x 32
TBD Devastator x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 6 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 22 damaged
TBD Devastator x 1 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 5 damaged
PO2 A.Obuchi of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2
CA Chokai
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 30,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3 Zero x 10
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 34
SBD Dauntless x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 15 damaged
WO M.Kawato of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
LCDR J. Gray of VF-6 is KILLED
Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CV Soryu
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
A6M3 Zero x 2
D3A Val x 8
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 56
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 7 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged
LTJG J. Topliff of VF-8 is credited with kill number 5
LT A.Kubota of AI-2 Daitai is KILLED
Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
D3A Val x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 34
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 25
A6M3 Zero x 16
D3A Val x 32
B5N Kate x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 6 destroyed
D3A Val x 8 damaged
B5N Kate x 6 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged
LTJG H. Gustafson of VF-8 is credited with kill number 6
LTJG H. Gustafson of VF-8 is KILLED
Allied Ships
CLAA Juneau, Bomb hits 1
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 4, on fire
CA Quincy, Bomb hits 6
DD Tucker
DD Conyngham, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M3 Zero x 10
D3A Val x 11
B5N Kate x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 12 damaged
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed
LTJG J.Minami of BI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
LTJG J. Topliff of VF-8 bails out and is CAPTURED
Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CL Nashville, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Helm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N Kate x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 damaged
ENS J.Erickson of VF-71 is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
DD Drayton
____________
I don't know how badly I hurt him but I lost the Big E and out of the remaining 3 the only carrier that can effectively conduct flight ops is the Sara. [:@][:@] I think it was worth the risk to at least give his carrier force a serious punch in the nose and possible cause the lost of at least 2 of his carriers and maybe a cruiser or 2 for the Enterprise. I won't get any more carriers until Mid 43 and now the only thing at risk is my landings at Lunga,Tuligi, GG since if the AI wasn't hurt that bad then I have effectively turn the initiative over to him for the at least the next 6 months and put the Marines at risk. I think it was worth the risk right now.
Anyhow, it is now the 24th of July 42. I now have th Sara and the Wasp (which has TBF's instead of TBD's [:)]). Went to raid Shortland, since I had been getting reports of a bunch of AP's there and since the AI hasn't seem to try and capture Lunga or Tuligi. I hung around there starting around the 18th and been darting into range for a day and then pulling south for out of range on a day. Well the AI must of finally gotten sick of it cause I got reports from my PBY's that there was a CV up near Buka on the 23. I found him and found the Akagi, Junyo, Rujyo, Zuiho, Kaga, operating together. Ran into range and attacked. This is the fallout:
Morning Strike
Air attack on TF at 30,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
A6M3 Zero x 26
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 32
SBD Dauntless x 78
TBD Devastator x 28
TBF Avenger x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 10 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 20 damaged
TBD Devastator x 20 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 11 damaged
TBF Avenger x 6 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 8 damaged
PO2 K.Kamisaka of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
CA Tone, Bomb hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 30,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
A6M3 Zero x 14
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 27
TBD Devastator x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 5 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
TBD Devastator x 5 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 9 damaged
PO2 B.Banno of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4
LCDR S. Itaya of AI-1 Daitai is KILLED
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Kaga, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 7
B5N Kate x 13
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 95
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 18 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
LTJG H. Mitchell of VF-6 is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
CV Wasp
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
A6M3 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 56
B5N Kate x 63
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 44
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 8 destroyed
D3A Val x 4 damaged
B5N Kate x 20 destroyed
B5N Kate x 19 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 destroyed
ENS V.Lange of VF-71 is credited with kill number 2
Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 15, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CA Northampton, Torpedo hits 1
DD Bagley
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 1
CA Indianapolis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Grayson, Bomb hits 1, on fire
_____________________________
Afternoon Strikes
Air attack on TF at 30,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3 Zero x 22
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
SBD Dauntless x 37
TBD Devastator x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 5 damaged
TBD Devastator x 2 destroyed
LT R. Gray of VF-8 is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Takao
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 30,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3 Zero x 10
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
SBD Dauntless x 32
TBD Devastator x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 6 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 22 damaged
TBD Devastator x 1 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 5 damaged
PO2 A.Obuchi of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2
CA Chokai
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 30,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3 Zero x 10
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 34
SBD Dauntless x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 15 damaged
WO M.Kawato of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
LCDR J. Gray of VF-6 is KILLED
Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CV Soryu
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
A6M3 Zero x 2
D3A Val x 8
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 56
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 7 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged
LTJG J. Topliff of VF-8 is credited with kill number 5
LT A.Kubota of AI-2 Daitai is KILLED
Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
D3A Val x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 34
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 25
A6M3 Zero x 16
D3A Val x 32
B5N Kate x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 6 destroyed
D3A Val x 8 damaged
B5N Kate x 6 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged
LTJG H. Gustafson of VF-8 is credited with kill number 6
LTJG H. Gustafson of VF-8 is KILLED
Allied Ships
CLAA Juneau, Bomb hits 1
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 4, on fire
CA Quincy, Bomb hits 6
DD Tucker
DD Conyngham, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M3 Zero x 10
D3A Val x 11
B5N Kate x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 12 damaged
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed
LTJG J.Minami of BI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
LTJG J. Topliff of VF-8 bails out and is CAPTURED
Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CL Nashville, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Helm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N Kate x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 damaged
ENS J.Erickson of VF-71 is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
DD Drayton
____________
I don't know how badly I hurt him but I lost the Big E and out of the remaining 3 the only carrier that can effectively conduct flight ops is the Sara. [:@][:@] I think it was worth the risk to at least give his carrier force a serious punch in the nose and possible cause the lost of at least 2 of his carriers and maybe a cruiser or 2 for the Enterprise. I won't get any more carriers until Mid 43 and now the only thing at risk is my landings at Lunga,Tuligi, GG since if the AI wasn't hurt that bad then I have effectively turn the initiative over to him for the at least the next 6 months and put the Marines at risk. I think it was worth the risk right now.