.
The first hour of the flight had been uneventful , much as the brief had suggested But Cpt Marshall had given his crew the heads up 30 mns earlier as the passed over the USN flat tops strung out below them. Guns tested and manned the crew were edgy, with not fighter cover it was them vs the Japanese CAP from the Shoho,their target.
"Bandits , 1.o clock , High and level . coming in fast" The Co pilot broke the silence over the RT All heads snapped. round .Eyes peering down the sights of the .50 calibers
"Hold your fire till they are close in " Marshall reminded them Each gunner nodded to themselves .Mouths became dry and nerves raw. The Zeros loomed closer.
The 2 higher planes peeled off left aiming to get round behind the Fortress, the second pair peeled right . As the Zeros flashed passed the nose of the B17 the gunners opened up at the closest, ripping into its rudder (0,0,0+RRD,2)
,his wing man suffering a punishing salvo from close range as the bomber swung right (3,4,5) note no AA alert dice 6
The Shoho picked up the RT com between their fighters and the signal was given to prepare the second CAP. With the wind coming from the North Shohos Captain gave the order to turn to Starboard.
The 2 fighters dove down on the tail of the B17 cannon ripping though the tail and hitting the waist gunner (6+pilot #+ RRD) The tail gunner and turrets reply causing little effect (1) (1)
The first white puffs of AA from the Chinsose and its escort burst in front of the nose cone Ranging shots on the incoming enemy, but close enough to rock the plane.
" 2 Zekes on our tail " The RT buzzed The Brownings rattled as he spoke. (4) "Got them" The belly gunner replied watching his tracers slice into a Zeros cockpit (2+Pilot). He watched as another fighter peeled off, seeming to disengage from the dogfight.
Marshall could see the wake of the Shoho a it turned into the wind presenting itself a s a perfect target if the fortress could get there in time.
The flight leader kept well within the blind spot of the upper turret keeping his aim on the massive body of the bomber watching the bullets find their mark (5) but feeling his plane judder as the Americans replied (3, 2)
.Closing in till he was almost o top of his target his burst went wide, the opposing gunners finishing him off in a hail of fire. (3+fire, 1+LR D)
As the IJN wounded pilot regained control of his plane and turning tight gets the bomber back in his sight, glancing to his left he sees another Zero , nodding his head forward to indicated his intention.
On the deck of the carrier the ground crew began their launch procedures .AA from the Chitose increased but at that height a hit was more difficult. The Zeros had fallen back from the attack but were reforming for a second sweep.
" Bay doors open" the bombardier called out.
With that Marshall banked right lining up on the deck of the carrier. He could clearly see the pilots in their planes pulling closed their canopies If he timed it right he would catch the CAP before they got airborne
The first of the 500lb bombs fell short of the bow but the second load struck the forward deck, piercing the wooden deck and exploding in the main hangar. The resulting firestorm ripped thought the lower decks igniting ruptured fuel pipes .
A single Zero lifted from the deck buffered by the inferno of the blazing carrier.
"Bandits back again" the turret gunner shouted over the rattle of his guns (2) The waist gunner replied (1) Marshall turned towards a second target. With half a load of bombs remaining the sea plane carrier looked a perfect target.
With 2 fighters on its tail the B17 was living up to its name. Accurate fire from those guns that could resulted in another kill. Tracers hit the bombers wing (5) and the multiple guns homed in on the lone IJN plane shattering its cockpit canopy ,shards cutting into its pilot (2+pilot,4,1)
The heavily damaged Zero was looking to bale out near the atoll, but seeing his carrier ablaze and 2 of his wing men down he reconsidered and angled his plane directly toward the B17.
Dazed and confused the wounded IJN pilot swung dangerously close to his foe but left himself open to a salvo of bullets (0,0,3,3+smoke) His engine gushed smoke , further blinding the stricken pilot.
" Chitose is out of line, got a cruiser coming up Skip, what do you want to do?'
" Take a bead on it , got to off load this lot before we go home" came the reply
With that a Zeke flashed past the nose of the bomber. taking the full blast of the turrets and waist gunner. It spiraled toward the atoll.
Bomb bays empty the plane lifted and increased its speed Below smoke and flames swept through the cruiser
Before his plane fell to the sea (3,2+LRD) the Zero to the left hit the B17 (005) his wing man doing similar (5)
"Home now Boys Whats the damage ?"
60% would say Skipper With that the AA from the Chinose hit home (2,1,5+ LRD) and the lone Zeke opened up at close rage (0,2,8) the cannon shell ripping the fuselage.
The reply was equally damaging (3,3,0,4) but it was the rear gunner that sealed the Zeros fate (5) but not before the Fortress was dealt a final blow (3,8,2)
The co pilot quickly sent out a May day to the awaiting sub before following the rest of the crew out of the falling bomber. He could see chutes below him and could hear the Klaxons sounding from the sinking ships.
" Hope they got the message, don't fancy being picked up by the Japanese today "
Result
IJN
IJN Shoho Badly damage 75%
Light Cruiser Destroyed
IJN Chitose No damage
5 Zeros SD
USN
1 B17 SD/sea/ET. 1 wounded crew. dice roles please Neil
A victory on points for the Allies
The B17 can certainly soak up the damage but can dish it out as well. I would recommend getting one if you can
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