The events of the first part of the campaign are coming to an end. Japanese reinforcements will start to arrive from th 18th onwards.
Turn 8
day (august 11)
Weather is fine
US forces continue to unload
US sub continues to patrol
5 fighter planes sweep over landing zone, intercepted by 4 sections
of US fighters and abort mission.
Turn 9
day (August 12)
Weather is fine
2 sections of fighters and a bomber section attack transports, driven
off by 5 fighter sections of CAP
Turn 10
day (August 13)
Cloudy and windy
Weather reduces air activity
Turn 11
day (August 14)
Weather is fine
Japanese air attacks are no more than scouts who flee when
encountered.
Turn 12
day (August 15)
It is raining
A large air attack of 6 fighter sections and 1 dive bomber section
attacks, intercepted by 5 fighter sections of cap. At 20,000 yards.
Part 1 of 2. 2 cap vs 3 zero sections
Turn 1
The planes manoeuvrer and 1 zero section goes past the US sections.
Turn 2
The zero section turns around and attacks green from the side causing
a catastrophic structural failure to fighter 1 and damaging the wing
of the leader. US red fires at Japanese red section but only does
light damage. Japanese green section misses completely and red
section does wing damage and cuts a fuel line of US green leader.
US red leader then fires again at Jap green 2 and causes the plane to
explode. The damage causes one Japanese plane and US red 1 to lose
control. US green 1 bails from his stricken aircraft
Turn 3
US red tails a Japanese section but is almost immediately thrown off.
US green leader is shot at by the swarming zeros taking more wing
damage and the critical instrument damage and starts breaking off.
The rookie of green section is also hit by fire first getting a fuel
line cut and then exploding in a fireball which kills the pilot. The
shooter, Zero green leader looses control due to the debries.
Turn 4
The planes manoeuvre and fire but all miss.
Turn 6
The zeros continue to fire and another US fighter is crippled and the
pilot bails. One of the other US planes, having lost control in turn
2 has now failed 4 times to regain control and bails before he hits
the sea. One of the Japanese planes which had also lost control fails
for a 5th time and hits the ocean.
The result is:
2 zeros down, 1 damaged, 5 cap down, 1 damaged. (A. Phelps, rookie,
KIA) (B. Kelly POW) (W. Cambell Lost at sea). A dark day for the
carrier group.
Part 2 of 2. 3 CAP vs 3 zero sections and 1 bomber
Turn 1
The planes rapidly close with each other. One of the Japanese
sections swings around and on the approach causes critical instrument
damage to US blue 1. However, a mistake has left them in the sights
of US green leader who takes his chance. Yellow leader of the zero
section erupts in a fireball and this causes 2 US planes and 1 Zero
to loose control in the crowded skies.
Turn 2
Next a swirling and confusing dogfight erupts and the planes begin to
separate. Various planes get tailed and then manoeuvrer to loose them
and take moderate damage such as wing damage. A lucky shot by Zero
blue 2 kills the pilot of US red 2.
Turn 3
The planes continue to manoeuvrer and fire but all miss. 2 planes
from US blue section begin to chase the bomber section and are in
turn chased by a Zero section. The other planes continue to dogfight.
Turn 4 and onwards
I got confused in my notes and was pretty tired. Basically next many
of the planes continue to fight while US blue goes after the bombers.
Blue 2 his hit by the pursuing zeros and explodes, but blue leader
shots down 1 bomber and damages a second. Before the zeros can get
blue leader. One of the US fighters from yellow section catches up
and makes the zeros break formation as well as shooting down 1. This
lets Blue leader finish off the last bomber. As the planes run out
of ammo, 4 fighters apiece remain in the air.
The result
2 zeros down, 2 bombers down 1 damaged. 2 CAP down (Z. Chang KIA) (P.
Drummond Section leader KIA). The day has been hard for the carrier
fighter force, 5 dead pilots and 7 lost planes is a heavy loss. The
only comfort is 4 zeros also went down as did all the bombers. The
transports are safe.
Turn 13
day (August 16)
It is raining
2 fighter sections engage 2 sections of CAP (battle report later)
The transports finish unloading and leave the area.
Turn 14
day (August 17)
it is windy
Japanese destroyer transports enter from the north. A large Japanese
transport fleet has also left its base and will soon arrive in the
area, A carrier group will also depart soon.
first battle report photos
Second battle report photos
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