2 replies to this topic

[W. Clark]

I'm playing the Allied commander in our running of an ODGW's Solomons Campaign. We went with Option 2 (No Savo Island). I split my forces into 3 task forces with carriers in 2 and a cruiser force in the third. I gave TF 1 & 2 CG missions and the transports to TF 3 and sent it to resupply and reinforce the Canal; I also ran a recon mission.

TF 3 completed its mission without a hitch. TF 1 made like Sergeant Shultz of Hogan's Heros fame in that it saw nothing, heard nothing and knew nothing. TF 2 was found by and then found an IJN carrier group and the fight that ensued is what this missive is about.

TF 2 was comprised of CVs Saratoga & Wasp, BB Washington (I got a lucky DR and recieved it early), CAs San Francisco & New Orleans, CLAAs Atlanta & San Juan and Des Ron 6 (7 DD).

The IJN Carrier Group was comprised of CVs Zuikaku & Shokaku, CAs Tone & Chikuma, CL Jintsu (?) and 8 Kagero (?) class DD.

The IJN struck first and wiped my cap (I managed to engage 6 flights) out of the sky killing 5 and damaging 1 while I managed kill 1 in return. My partner and I were starting to think "Not Good" when I did the right thing and handed him the dice for our AA fire (he could not have done much worse). Preston then proceeded to roll 1s and 2s like the D12 were 2 sided dice. The short story is that they had sent about 60+ A/C they only got a handfull through the AA. The IJN then missed the Sara but hit the San Francisco reducing her to 24 knots. The IJN player had used his fighters to strafe our Cans to reduce the AA attacks we could make in defense of our larger ships Preston made up for my poor exchange rate by splashing 4 of them and damaging another (squids evening the score for the airdales).

At this point we had recovered our earlier morale loss and the IJN was looking a little glum when the ref said; "Not so fast there is at least another round." I had already decided not to detach the San Francisco, a clear mistake that would cost us as it slowed us from 27 to 24 knots and made us easier to hit.

We both launched strikes. I sent a max effort from each carrier. Sara's strike was comprised of 4 F4, 9 SBD & 4 TBF. Wasp sent 3 F4, 8 SBD & 2 TBF. The IJN's strike looked to be of similar size.

The IJN only had 2 Zeros on cap and they went for the Wasp's strike shooting down an F4 for no return loss (I was rolling again). The Zeros then proceeded to ravage Wasp's TBFs killing 1 and damaging another out of 3 before damaging an SBD all without any loss in return. I also used my fighters to strafe the escorting DDs to reduce their supporting AA defense of the carriers and targeted the carriers primarily with some excess from Wasp targeting the Chikuma. I torpedoed the Shokaku and hit her with 1 heavy bomb and 2 near misses that sank her. I damaged the Zuikaku but she was still able to operate A/C. I also damaged the Chikuma.

I only had 2 F4 on cap and the attacking Zeros killed them both for no loss. I then promptly handed the dice back to Preston in hopes of another AA defense miracle. No such luck, both Atlantas and Washington wiffed and the DDs while killing and damaging strafing Zeros missed the planes attacking Sara, Wasp and Washington. Wasp was torpedoed twice and received about 5 medium bomb hits. At least 2 of the bombs started hanger fires but rapidly acumalating hull hits allowed the Pacific to put those fires those fires out before the attacking A/C had left the scene (if only I could have reinflated the Wasp, we would have been good). They also damaged Sara but I quickly put out her fire and she could still operate A/C. The Washington was hit twice and we were all spectators as the IJN's medium bombs simply bounced off her like red rubber balls except for knocking out a 5" turret.

It was 3pm and normally we would have quit but ODGW's product had our collective blood up and we all opted for a third strike. Again, Sara sent a max effort while I sent Wasp's returning planes to Henderson Field (another mistake, I could have used some of them in the strike). This time the IJN AA defense looked a lot like the American first round and not a single SBD or TBF survived to strike Zuikaku. I hit Chikuma again but did not sink her.

The IJN struck Sara and reduced her to 2 hull boxes with 2 fires. I failed to put either fire on my first attempt but succeeded with both on my second by which point she was down to 1 hull box and 5 knots but still afloat. I sent her surviving A/C to Henderson Field. and it was over till next month.

I'm not much into planes or subs for that matter. I like surface engagements; but this was a really good game and we are all looking forward to next month.

[Tu Tran]

Excellent write up! Thank you for taking the time to post the AAR.

[Frank]

Very good report. I'd be happy to trade the Shokaku for the Wasp. That's going to hurt the Japanese later on. Thanks for sharing this. Looking forward to more.