Modern Pacific Campaign part 2

Senkaku Face-off

2 weeks previously Chinese and Philippine naval forces clashed off of the Scarborough Shoal. The political implications and improvements have encouraged the Chinese government to be more ambitious. They have announced that they are enforcing their declared security zone around the Senkaku Islands. Both Taiwan and Japan have protested and japan intends to test this declaration. Both sides expect a confrontation, especially after the events 2 weeks before. The date is March 23^rd 2021. The time is 13:00

Forces

The Japanese have dispatched the 13^th Escort squadron (sasebo) of:

DD-157 Sawagiri (Asagiri class)

DE-230 Jintsu (Abukuma class)

DD-132 Asayuki (Hatsuyuki class)

They have also sent out a submarine to patrol the area

SS-501 Soryu

In air support they have

3 F-2s with 4 Type 88 ASMS

6 F15J Eagles with 4 AIM 4s and 6 AIM 5s

1 E-1C Hawkeye – endurance 4 hours

The Chinese forces are

2 Jiankai IIs Zhoushan (529)（舟山） Xuzhou (530)（徐州）

1 Jiangwei II Jiaxing (521)（嘉兴）

3 Jiangdao Bengbu (582) (蚌埠Shangrao (583（上饶）Ji'an (586)（吉安）

In air support they have

9 Shenyang J11s with 4 Vympel R-77s, 2 Vympel R-27s and 4Vympel R-73s

6 Chnegdu J10s with 2 PL-12s, 4 YJ-9Ks and 4 PL10s

The hawk eye has 4 hours remaining of endurance

Japanese air support arrival time is 25 mins after request.

Chinese air support arrival time is 20 mins after request.

Sea state is 6 (quite bad) and it is raining

The game

Both forces maneuver in the area north of the Senkakus, eventually the Japanese Hawkeye picked up emissions from the Chinese fleet and approached it. As it got closer it was able to pick up each ship on radar. The Japanese fleet then began to approach.

When the Chinese fleet picked up the Hawkeye’s emissions they launched their helicopters in an effort to pick up the source.

After about 1 and a half hours the Japanese ships came within radar range of the Chinese ships. The bad weather was limiting radar range. The Japanese sub was also heading towards the location.

The Chinese fleet launches choppers.

The Chinese fleet called in all its air support while the Japanese fleet only requested fighter coverage. Both fleets also began to exchange warnings and threats.

The fleets get closer.

After about 20 minutes and shortly before the chines air support arrived the Hawkeye picked up the approaching Chinese strike fighters on radar. The Japanese fleet then launched all of its harpoons towards the Chinese fleet in a surprising and aggressive move. The Chinese responded shortly after with a total launch of all their anti-ship missiles.

The first wave of surface missles are away.

At the same time the Chinese air support arrived and some of the fighters broke off towards the Hawkeye whose emissions they had picked up. The Hawkeye began to retreat back towards the approaching Japanese F15s.

The faster harpoons reached the Chinese fleet first and their speed and final maneuvers meant that over half survived the storm of anti-air missiles fired by the Chinese. 15 got through and targeted various ships in the task force, another 5 were lost to the close in defense weaponry on the Chinese ships and another 6 were confused by jamming and decoys. Of the 4 remaining, 1 struck each of the Jiangdaos and 1 hit the Jiankai II 'Zhoushan'.

The missles start to reach their targets.

The large warheads on the harpoons were too much for the smaller Jiangdaos and left them very badly damaged with fires, flooding and almost total systems failure. The Zhoushan lost its bridge and also began flooding.

The slower Chinese missiles arrived a couple of minutes later and their slower speed meant that the Japanese ships could launch more AA missiles. However, the smaller Japanese ship lacked any AA missiles. Of the 28 missiles launched by the Chinese 12 are lost to sea sparrows launched by the Japanese. Another 7 are lost to phalanx defense turrets. Of the 9 missiles left 3 get through the Jamming and decoy screen, 2 strike the small Jintsu and 1 hits the larger Sawagiri.

The Jintsu is very badly damaged and has most systems go down. The strike on the sawagiri does significant damage but all major systesm remain online.

At the same time the 4 Chinese fighters chasing the Hawkeye get into long range around the same time as the F15s get into range on them. A number of long range missiles are launched and 1 fighter from each side is lost as well as the Hawkeye. A few moments later the Chinese fire their medium range missiles and the Japanese get close enough to fire theirs. The result is a total loss with all fighters going down. It has also been several minutes since the Japanese called for the F2s and their anti-ship missiles.

Air forces engage.

The Chinese strike fighters now close with the Japanese ships free from any threat as the remaining Japanese fighters withdraw to cover the F2s. They launch their payload of smaller anti-ship missiles.

The remaining anti-air missiles are fired by the Japanese ships, after the guns, decoys and jamming are done 2 trike the Asayuki and 3 the Sawagiri. The smaller warheads on these missiles mean that the damage to the Asayuki is light and, while the Sawagiri is now quite badly damaged, its radar is still functioning. This is critical as it guides in the F2s who launch their long range missiles free from any Chinese fighter threat.

Chinese planes strike the Japanese ships.

The wave of 12 anti-ship missiles again passes through the now reduced Chinese screen with 5 hitting targets. The Jiaxing is struck by 2 and is completely destroyed. 2 strike the Xuzhou doing major damage and starting flooding in 2 sections and a fire as well as systems damage. The Zhoushan is hit once and escapes with only its weapons and sensors destroyed.

The Japanese planes finish off the damaged fleet.

After this both forces begin to withdraw but the Xuzhou and the Jintsu sink before getting very far.

The result is 1 small destroyer lost and 2 destroyers damaged for Japan while china loses 3 missile boats 2 destroyers and 1 badly damaged. Both sides also lose 3 fighters and Japan loses the Hawkeye.

The Japanese sub is too far to away and does not arrive in time, it is called back rather than hunt down the last Chinese destroyer.

Political result

With the amount of ships lost it is played out as a Japanese victory and the government in Japan enjoys a wave of popular support. Who shot first becomes a major issue with both sides blaming the other for aggressive movements, with the Japanese force leader saying the decision to launch was made when the Chinese air strike force was picked up on radar.

Behind closed doors the issues are more complicated. While the Japanese navy performed well, the air force was forced back as it cannot take heavy losses and the Chinese fighters are more effective than expected and can afford large losses. The loss of a Hawkeye is also a blow.

All of these considerations and the news coverage soon end, when China begins its attack on Taiwan around 21 hours later.

The game

The game was surprising on a few levels. The first was the power of the harpoon, the speed, size of the warhead and ability to perform in flight maneuvers really made these missiles deadly. The second was how the presence of 1 Hawkeye really meant that japan had a huge advantage in terms of the locations of Chinese forces. It gave a major early advantage. The last surprise was how effective the Chinese air force was, after the first clash they basically forced the Japanese reserves out of the area less they suffer heavy losses.

As this game was a confused meeting engagement, it does not reflect the full power of either the nations involved.

New Campaign: Modern Pacific

I have started a new campaign, this one will be set in the Pacific and South China sea. The rules will be Harpoon 4. I may add land combat at a later date

Modern Naval Campaign

Overview

It is 2021, the world is has entered an economic downturn. Many major powers face increasing unrest and political troubles at home. The US looks to a more internal focused policy after damage from the trade war with china took its toll. China also faces major economic problems from the trade war and increasing isolation after the brutal subjugation of Hong Kong.

Other nations too have economic and political issues, but these are less drastic. As world opinion turns on china and economic hardships effect its people, the chines government become more bellicose. A declaration that all ships using china's (claimed) territorial waters must get permission, or pay a fine is the result. Many nations refuse to do this. At first the declaration is mostly unenforced.

Near the Scarborough Shoal china has once again banned not only fishing by Phillapine vessles but also transit and has expanded the area where these rules apply. The recent harassment of these vessles has caused the Philapine navy to send a vessle to carryout a freedom of navigation mission through this claimed area.

Scarborough Contact

2 Philippine patrol boats, PS-28 BRP Cebu and PS-20 BRP Magat Salamat, are conducting a freedom of navigation manoeuvrer through china's declared exclusive zone around the Scarborough Shoal. Their direction and location have been reported and a single Chinese Type 053 (Jianghu IV) is attempting to intercept. The Philippine air force also has 1 KAI golden eagle on standby.

Objectives

         Philippines

                 Strategic

                        Complete freedom of navigation manoeuvrer, drive off any aggressor. Do not  

                         loose any ships.

                 Tactical

                        Do not loose any ships, inflict damage on any aggressor.

          China

                  Strategic

                         Prevent Enemy ships entry into security zone. Avoid damage

                  Tactical

                          Prevent enemy ships entry into security zone, do not loose the ship.

The contact at 3.15pm local time

The 2 Philippine ships continued on there straight course and were intercepted by the Chinese frigate. Both had radar contact, the Chinese ship matched the Philippine ships course at just over 6 nautical miles away and broadcast warnings. The Philippine ships continued on their course.

At 4.06 the Chinese ship fired a warning shot. The Philippine captains did not react and continued.

At 4.10 the Chinese ship open fire with its main gun. The first rounds missed and the Philippine ships under the assumption that this was another warning did not react. The second set of rounds struck the Magat Salamat, the shells doing some damage to the smaller ship.

At this point both Philippine ships turned towards the Chinese ship in order to get into range. Over the next 2 minutes the Chinese ship continued to fire and miss the smaller ships. At 4.14 a second round struck the Magat Salamat and this time did significant damage taking out the radar, main gun and rudder.

As the Magat Salamat, now unable to manoeuvrer effectively, tries to disengage the Cebu starts to fire its main gun. Once again both ships miss several times.

4.17 A round from the Cebu strikes the Beihai doing very light damage. Having taken a hit the chinese ship responds with its missles.

4.18 1 anti ship missile is launched towards the Cebu.

4.19 The Cebu misses in its attempt to bring down the missile and is struck. The small ship is knocked out of the fight and begins to sink.

4.20 The Beihai launches a second missile towards the Magat Salamat.

4.23 The Magat Salamat is struck and sunk by the missile.

4.31 A KIA golden Eagle which had been prepared earlier arrives in the area. It locates the Beihai on Radar and proceeds towards the target. At a distance of around 10 nm it launches 2 maverick missiles. As they approach the Beihai, 1 is shot down by the defensive anti air fire. The second strikes the ship. The plane then launches the second set of 2 missiles both of these make it through the AA fire and strike the Beihai.

4.35 The Eagle leaves the combat area having used its payload. The Beihai has been heavily damaged but is still able to sale and makes it's way back to port.

Result

Tactical victory for China.

The successful enforcement of the Security zone shows that china is not bluffing. Also the easy destruction of 2 enemy ships demonstrates the power of the Chinese navy. However the damage inflicted by 1 plane shows the danger that a lack of AA or fighter support can have. The distance from the mainland and the airbases there shows a possible weakness. The limited modern elements of the south east Asian countries could be a significant threat if grouped together.

Political Results

The result is not good for the president of the Philippines. The loss of 2 ships (even if they were the oldest in the fleet) will not go down well with his nationalist supporters back home. However, with this event he has demonstrated the threat that china poses and this may help unify the ASEAN nations at the emergency meeting soon to be held. The fact the the US has only offered words rather than action also helps this cause.

In China the result is greeted with celebration by the public and repeated on the public news broadcasters. This is what the government hoped for as people, for a time, forget the economic troubles. The threat posed by the ASEAN as a group has been noted though and by threats and bribes attempts will be made to split them up. Also the US's lack of action is encouraging. Bigger plans can now be carried out with confidence.

August 22 Carrier strikes and results

Turn 15 day (August 18)

The Japanese destroyer transports are ordered back and join the larger transport force which continues towards the islands

skip time

Turn 19 day August 22

The main Japanese force enters the area to clear the way for the transports

4 is the advance/ support force

5 is the striking (carrier) force

6 is the Vanguard force

7 is the diversionary force

US numbers are1 for Air Support Force (Saratoga), 2 for Task Unit from old TF 16 (enterprise), 3 for Task Unit under Rear Adm. Noyes (wasp)

The weather is windy

Scout planes from both sides spot almost all the main ship groups, except the Japanese diversionary group. All ships launch attack groups

Shokaku attack force 15 fighters 9 torpedo bombers, 14 dive bombers (target US 1 (Saratoga))

Zuikaku attack force 15 fighters 27 dive bombers (US 2 (Enterprise))

Ryujo attack force 12 fighters 21 torpedo bombers (US 3 (Wasp))

The US forces all target the stiking carrier force

Saratoga attack force 15 fighters 18 dive bombers 9 avengers

Enterprise attack force 15 fighters, 18 div bombers 9 avengers

Wasp attack force 15 fighters, 18 dive mobers, 6 avengers

The Zuikaku force cant find Enterprise and so moves to attack the Saratoga force

cap for Shokaku attack on Saratoga 15 wild cats

cap for ryujyo on wasp 12 wild cats

cap for combined attack on japanese carriers 24 zeros

Battle 1 The American attack on the carriers

I will split this battle into 6 parts because of its size.

Part 1

8 wild cats, 9 bombers, 6 torpedo bombers vs 6 zeros. 1 junior ace on each size.

This battle was dominated by poor dice rolling.

At first the forces moved towards each other and some good cards saw a zero squadron get behind the bomber formation and fire. This caused 1 bomber to explode causing 5 torpedo bombers and 2 dive bombers and 1 zero to loose control. (only the dive bombers and 1 torpedo bomber would regain control over 4 turns!)

Other than this 1 zero was shot down and some damage done to other but the number of times a huge amount of fire produced no result was crazy.

In the end 1 zero was shot down, 1 crashed, 1 damaged,

The US lost 5 torpedo bombers and 1 damaged fighter,

9 dive bombers reach the fleet

Part 2

6 wild cats 9 bombers, 3 torpedo bombers vs 3 zeros

At first the US pilots fail badly, many missing and jamming there guns. This allows the the Zeros to inflict some damage on the first pass. After this as the zeros turn to chase the bombers the US fighters can get behind and shoot 2 down. More bombers are lost or damaged. In the end 2 wild cats and 1 of each kind of bomber are shot down with another bomber damaged and forced back to base

7 dauntless and 2 avengers reach fleet

2 wild cats, 2 bombers and 2 zeros are lost

both pilots who bailed are rescued.

Part 3

9 wild cats, 9 bombers, 6 torpedo bombers vs 6 zeros

The US starts badly again and 2 fighters are shot down on the first pass, 3 zeros chase the bombers while 3 engage the cap, both fail to achieve much as the bombers manoeuvrer well

7 dauntless and 5 avengers reach the fleet

2 dauntless, 1 torpedo bomber, 2 wild cats and 3 zeros are lost

Part 4

6 wild cats, 9 dive bomber and 6 torpedo bombers vs 3 zeros.

Its starts well for the zros as they claim 2 bombers but soon 2 are shot down by lucky long range fire and the last one breaks off. 1 ace is forced to bail and is lost at sea

Part 5

9 fighters, 9 dive bombers 3 torp vs 3 zeros

The zeros aproach close to the bombers and fire from the bombers damages all 3, the rookie looses control and crashes, the bombers are safe

part 6

the small fighter escort for bombers and 2 aces on the Japanese side seem to show a more even fight, but turret fire from the bombers forces 2 zero off with damage. The last ace shoots down 2 before he is out of ammo.

After all the battles most of the bombers have made it through, casualties between the US and Japanese are about even.

The strike

The many US bombers approach the carrier group, most are able to target the carriers with a few going after destroyers.

The first waves of dive bombers drop a large number of bombs scoring 2 hits on both carriers. IJN Zuikaku takes a penetrating hit which destroys is forward hanger and another damages its forward flight deck. Shortly after aviation fuel ignites and the stricken carrier is destroyed by a raging fire. Vice admiral Chunichi Nagumo does not escape his flag ship.

The Shokaku has both its flight decks badly damaged and its hull is also battered. However the crew fight the fires and are able to save the ship. They should be able to recover some of the aircraft currently in the air if they work hard to repair the decks.

One destroyer, the Kazegumo takes a bomb hit which damages its hull and knocks out 2 of its 3 gun turrets.

Then the torpedoes dropped by the torpedo bombers arrive, but once again American torpedoes fail and only 1 hits. It strikes the Makigumo, another destroyer. It suffers hull damage and the magazine ignites, the crew fail to stop it and the ship is destroyed in a fireball.

The cost to the US is 12 lost bombers, 9 damaged and 26 ok.

Dive bombers are 4 lost and 5 damaged from 19

The bomber wings from Zuikaku and Shokaku reach the Saratoga one after another. The CAP are largly rookies and are overcome easily by the veteran pilots of the Japanese carriers. The heavy AA is another matter

Shokaku looses 7 dive bombers and 1 torpedo bomber with1 damaged out of 15 and 12

These do heavy damage to a cruiser and sink a destroyer but only hit one flight deck on the Saratoga.

Following up, the many dive bombers from Zuikaku arrive. The suffer even worse from the AA loosing 7 dead and 6 damaged from 27. The survivors do more damage to the cruiser and hit the Saratoga 3 times doing severe hull damage and starting a hanger fire. The massive hull damage is too much and fire consumes the ship. Vice admiral Noyes does not make it off his flagship.

The strike on the Wasp by the Ryujyo's torpedo bombers leads to the loss of 8 shot down and 4 damaged. 1 torpedo strikes the carrier, knocking out its engineering and doing massive hull damage. Another torpedo strikes the Salt Lake City which also takes significant hull damage and the loss of its forward guns.

The final results are the loss of 1 carrier a side, and the crippling of another on both sides. This leaves 1 carrier each with an active wing remaining.

I am also now quite bored of this campaign, the many repetitive air battles got old fast. I may do one final naval battle if the Japanese surface force can catch any of the US forces. It looks like the campaign will result in a draw.

August 16 Air battle, (Bag the Hun battle report)

2 fighter sections engage 2 sections of CAP

The transports finish unloading and leave the area.

August 16^th air battle, 2 sections of Zeros vs 2 sections of Wild cats

The sections approach each other and the leading planes exchange fire, causing little damage except for the gunsight on one of the zero leaders. The planes fly past each other on one side Blue zero section gets behind US red and on the other US white gets behind zero green.

In the turn to follow zero green, The rookie leader and number 2 of US white section fail to keep up, with number 2 loosing control of his plane. This leaves only white 1 behind the zero section. US red section has zeros approaching from the rear. A hard turn could help, but with one of the wing men a rookie the change of loosing him is high, should he fail, with a full zero section behind, his chances are slim. Thus the red leader tries a daring manoeuvrer, he turns gently towards the other zero section and US green and flies through them. His section dodges all the planes, both US and Japanese. The following Japanese section does the same thing. Both wing men avoid the wing men from the other section. The leaders are not so lucky as they clip each other. It is a disaster, blue leaders plane stats to fall apart as a wing sheers off. Green leaders plane is engulfed in a fireball. Which cause 3 of the 4 wing men to loose control.

Now the tides have turned. Over the next few minutes US red section will shoot down 2 more Zeros.

Meanwhile, of the remaining 2 zeros, one will struggle to regain control, and after taking damage break off.

The other follows US white leader who is now alone, the other rookie having struggled with the controls so much he leaves the area. A burst from the Zero causes critical instrument damage to US white leader who attempts to break off. The zero follows him and puts round after round into his plane. Before his other wingman can arrive to drive off the zero US white leader will take heavy damage to both wings, his cockpit and have his flue lines damaged. However he makes it back to the carrier alive and still in his plane.

The result is 4 downed zeros with 1 more damaged. The US losses are 1 damaged fighter. Group leader C. Powell has also become a junior ace after his great performance. The second ace in the task force and both from the same carrier.

Guadalcanal Campaign August 11- 17 and battle report

 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 5^th 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

 

 

Guadalcana campaign August 9 and 10 and air strike battle report

 Note. I didnt record the results of the Tulagi battle as it mostly went as expected and i was eager to be done with these land battles. mostly because i messed up my land board and it is too uneaven for the terrain. needless to say the US forces won with their massive advantage.

Turn 6 day (August 9)

The weather is fine

The US sub continues to patrol.

The Japanese land forces stop withdrawing.

The US task force continues to unload

2 dive bomber sections and a fighter attack the transports but are intercepted by a large number of fighters and abort the mission before reaching their target.

Once again the Japanese submarine spots the task force it has been following.

I-123 fires a spread at the Task Unit from old TF 16, 1 of which strikes the enterprise.

The submarine is then destroyed by depth charges.

The torpedo strikes the Enterprise carrier but at a bad angle and while there is some hull damage the ship escapes mostly intact.

Turn 6 night

The weather is fine.

The US forces continue to unload.

The US sub continues to patrol

The only Japanese forces in the theatre now hunker down and await reinforcements.

Turn 7 day (august 10)

It is cloudy

Once again a large air force attacks the transports They are intercepted by 2 sections at 25000 yards.

So it is 2 sections of CAP vs 3 fighter, 3 dive bomber and 1 torp bomber sections.

The 2 Cap sections are White 1 from the USS Wasp and the Saratoga's 2^nd fighter red section. The Saratoga's section is lead by a vet and has 1 average pilot and a rookie. The wasp's section are all average pilots. They face 3 zero fighter sections all average and lead by veterans. These are

escorting 3 dive bomber sections and 1 torpedo bomber section. It will be a hard fight for the Americans. They start coming head on to the bombers

Turn 1

All the planes move up, some long range fire from the Japanese fails to do any damage.

Turn 2

The planes manover, US white moves over the bombers and directly behind them but is caught and tailed by a zero section. US red moves around to the right in a tight circle pursued by 2 zero sections. The hard manoeuvrer causes the rookie to test to keep formation which he does.

The leader of the Zero section behind US white fires on the leader and the long burst shreds the planes fuselage causing it to begin to spiral down to the sea. US red takes a lot of fire but only minor damaged is caused. In turn a burst of fire from US red leader (H. Jones)causes one of the torpedo bomber pilots to loose control.

Turn 3

The leader of US white (W. bailey) bails successfully from his stricken plane. Fire from the Japanese section behind US red causes engine damage on number 1 (S. Roche) and misses the others. One Japanese pilot jams his guns.

The 2 remaining planes from US white section split up and both turn to follow the torpedo bombers. The get behind them and both fire. White 1 (J. Thompson) causes damage to the fuel line while white 2 (N. Powell) accurate fire causes the bomber to explode causing number 3 to loose control. The leader still struggling from the earlier fire fails to regain control.

US red leader has now moved up behind the bombers a good distance from the escorts, CAP and torpedoes bombers behind him. His accurate fire causes engine damage to one and causes another to explode causing another to loose control.

The green zero section fires on US white 1 but misses with 1 pilot jamming his guns. Another Zero sections on the rookie of US red section (J. O'Rorke) The cockpit is shredded and O'Rorke is KIA.

Turn 4 and Turn 5

Red leader having used all his ammunition leaves the battle field, seeing behind him 2 of the bombers who he caused to loose control and the one whose engine he damaged smash into the sea.

The Zero section behind US white 2 damages the plane enough to force the pilot to bail as it heads towards the sea.

2 sections pursue White 1 (J. Thompson) as he makes his escape and miraculously he dodges all their fire with nothing more than his gun sights and windows damaged. The pursuing zeros, having run out of ammunition break off.

The surviving 6 dive bombers and 1 torpedo bomber make their attack runs on the transports.

The torpedo bomber is shot down almost immediately. The dive bombers make runs on the USS Fuller and the USS Alhena. One dive bomber from each is damaged. The Fuller is struck amid ships by a penetrating bomb which causes extensive damage and sinks the ship after a short while. The Alhena is hit in the stern with the bomb reaching the 2 stern cargo holds. A large fire takes hold but is eventually put out.

The loss of the Fuller take with it 2 weapons platoons and 2 marine platoons. The Alhena fire costs the landing forces a weapons platoon, an artillery platoon and 2 tanks. The losses among troops would have been much greater if they had not already mostly been sent ashore in the landings.

However, the damage to another of the cargo ships of which there are only 5 has cost more heavy equipment. Already 25% of the tanks and a portion of heavy artillery have been lost.

The skill of red leader (H. Jones) has seen him reach the level of a Junior ace, the first one among all the carrier pilots.

Battle of Tanambogo (Blitzkrieg Commander 3 Battle report)

The battle of Tanambogo.

This is a quick report of the battle for the second island, Tanambogo. It takes place the day after the first battle of Gavutu.

The US forces have decided to continue with their swift assaults with another one the next day. Again there will only be light support and this time only 1 tank as the previous losses have not yet been replaced.

The battle was a simple affair with the Americans storming up the beach and across the causeway. The Japanese defenders, out numbered by superior troops were only able to inflict light casualties before being overwhelmed.

This lead to another swift victory and Gavutu-Tanambogo has now been secured, though this outcome was never in doubt.

The next battle will be for Tualgi, which is a slightly bigger affair and takes place at the same time as this.

These two battles cost the Marine parachute regiment 18 of it's 50 or so squads and as such the regiment will be withdrawn from the front line now to recover its strength.

The Japanese forces lost all men on the islands, a construction battalion, an airbase unit and elements from a special landing force.

Here are some photos of the battle.