Well it looks like one carrier dead and another damaged. Quite a lot of planes downed. I wonder what the US still has available after all these casualties. Hopefully enough for the morning attacks. That is if the US can locate the enemy. Any rules of search planes detecting the enemy at night?
IJN Carrier attack on Hawaii - January 1942. Wargame for thread in progress.
- Thread starter Glenn239
- Start date
Boo! Bad Fuchida! You were supposed to fly in circles.
Well lets hope the American CAP and ship AAA ca whittle down the attackers. Does not look good at this time.
I did, thx.zert said:
Tho having Kaga put out of action isn't quite what I'd call a great roll.Yeah.Dilvish said:
One thing about playing the SO role(s) yourself, you don't have to deal with the "commander nerve score".
(Presuming game rules don't limit you.)Thx.Dilvish said:
I'd say we'd each need a senior air & land commander, as involved as it could get. I also very much want to see the effect of the subwar, if it's possible to game that out. (If it is, I want to change sides. I want English's job.)After his dive, Pederson pulled out due west at high speed without watching the results of his bomber attack. Kicking past a screen destroyer that despite all else seemed surprised by his presence, he kept low and fast. A Zero picked up on him and half-heartedly made a few show passes, soon deterred by some bursts from Pederson's rear gunner.
Well clear, he climbed to 3,000 feet and ruefully noted the holes all over his wings and fuselage. A few other squadron mates formed up as the little procession headed home.
Then, chatter came in on the radio from TF1 far to the west. It was Enterprise AIO calling fighters onto an incoming strike. A big one. Moments of tension followed by chatter as the fighters broke into the attacking formation and were overwelmed. Then a long silence, followed by a message from USS New Orleans repeated over and over again,
"Enterprise hit 10 bombs, 3 torpedoes. Sinking. Yorktown 3 torpedoes, 6 bombs, sunk. Numerous hits on other escorts. All strike aircraft divert to Kauai or Oahu."
He didn't think he had the gas to make Kauai, but solemly the little force turned south....
Well clear, he climbed to 3,000 feet and ruefully noted the holes all over his wings and fuselage. A few other squadron mates formed up as the little procession headed home.
Then, chatter came in on the radio from TF1 far to the west. It was Enterprise AIO calling fighters onto an incoming strike. A big one. Moments of tension followed by chatter as the fighters broke into the attacking formation and were overwelmed. Then a long silence, followed by a message from USS New Orleans repeated over and over again,
"Enterprise hit 10 bombs, 3 torpedoes. Sinking. Yorktown 3 torpedoes, 6 bombs, sunk. Numerous hits on other escorts. All strike aircraft divert to Kauai or Oahu."
He didn't think he had the gas to make Kauai, but solemly the little force turned south....
Fuchida's strike was 36 Zeros, 63 Kates (all torpedo armed), 58 dive bombers.
It was range 4 from Nagumo in clear weather, so there was no chance it would miss, (which was the main hope).
It was met by 9 F4F's on CAP (some other US fightesr had called 'bingo' after fending off the first IJN attack).
50 torpedoes were dropped, 6 scored hits.
50 dive bombers scored 17 hits.
9 Wildcats were lost in dogfights and 9 Zeros were shot down by CAP, as well as 4 Kates. 18 aircraft were shot down (or too damaged to continue in the battle) by fierce anti-aircraft.
deathscompanion1
Banned
Damn it didn't you read the script? The Americans get saved by amazing strokes of luck until they get their act together and kick ass!
It's in the rule book right next to France falls in six weeks every time the Germans invade.
deathscompanion1
Banned
On the bright side the USA can replace it's carriers, the Japanese cannot. Not as good as OTL if the Japanese lose any more ships they are in for a rough time when the 1943 surge comes along.
The numbers don't quite match up. There's been 17 bomb hits and 6 torpedo hits. American carriers were hit by 16 bombs and 6 torpedoes. Their escorts were hit "numerous" times.
What happens next?
Will Nagumo sneak away under cover of darkness? He may have to fight this battle a second time tomorrow vs Lexington and/or Saratoga if he stays in the area. But Hawaii's defenses have been significantly weakened and Nagumo still has a potent force. I can see the strikes from Shoho and Zuiho occupying a similar place in history as the ill-fated torpedo bombers at Midway. Obsolete planes drawing off and weakening the CAP, allowing another wave of the same attack to devastate the target.
I think the Akagi is still operational and the Kaga has not yet sunk. The Japanese have a dominant position on the battlefield and so have better chances to recover crippled and damaged units. (although I don't know if the game has rules for that)
Japanese losses of two damaged carriers vs. American losses of 2 sunk carriers plus "Numerous hits on other escorts" is a little more palatable, although I agree it's not the kind of lopsided victory Japan would need to win consistently to win the whole war.
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The USN can replace its carriers...eventually...but I'm thinking the early loss of two carriers is going to leave them cautious about taking on large scale Japanese operations until they've got some of those decks in service. Could give the Japanese more breathing room to run around in the next year or so.
Only one IJN CV actually sunk, so worse than that for the U.S.zert said:
And not over yet: I've still got surface forces if I want to engage the surviving U.S. cruisers, plus heavies & transports for potential invasion...
As for attack on Oahu, here's where it gets ahistorical in the extreme. I've already achieved the OTL goal, & then some.
Why would I actually bother with the tank farm, power station, & Navy Yard, when I expect the war to end by June or July?Well I admit that I projected the best scenario for the US with the Akagi and Kaga sunk. Makes it even worse if they are oy damaged.
Well in the short run the US is hurt badly with two carriers sunk. In real time they can rebuilt the fleet stronger and better but fod this game they are down with the count starting. They may still back up by morning but it will be a tough try to get back up.
Well in the short run the US is hurt badly with two carriers sunk. In real time they can rebuilt the fleet stronger and better but fod this game they are down with the count starting. They may still back up by morning but it will be a tough try to get back up.