Warhawk
02-06-2016, 08:34
Hiroyoshi Hanabusa was addressing the men in the briefing room. They had all gathered to hear the change of plans. "OK, as you may have heard we have been directed towards Wake Island to support the assault there. Our efforts there have been stalled by an unusual defence put up by the Americans. Recently they have sunk a pair of our destroyers and forced back a landing attempt. One of the destroyers was sunk by enemy fighters previously thought to have been destroyed. I will lead a flight and will be keeping my eyes out for these fighters. The other destroyer was sunk by shore batteries, this is where our bombers come in. Kuramoto will lead a pair of D3A1's to recon and harass the enemy coastal guns. Once they have been identified and hit we will send another wave to finish them off for good. Nishihara you will fly with him in the second bomber and I will be covering you both from any enemy aircraft that are left. Questions?" After a quick pause with no response he continued. "Let's get to it".
A few hours later and they were in the air proceeding to the target. Nishihara was on his first mission that had potential to see action. His nerves ran high but he was methodical in the procedure, his training surpassing his emotion. It was due to this that he was the first to spot the enemy planes approaching.
186858
They came out of a cloud and pounced on the bombers but the flight was in a tight formation and was well prepared for an attack. Hanabusa used his skillful aim to do substantial damage (Sniper skill, 0 ignored, 8 applied) to one of the Wildcats, along with help from the veteran in the lead D3A1. Nishihara took some heavy damage but checked the systems and seemed OK to fly for now.
186859
Hiroyoshi had timed the attack perfectly and swung his aircraft around continuing a stream of fire into the F4F he had been attacking previously. At first his aim was a little off but he found his target and sent the first American down into the waves below.
186860
He had anticipated that the second Wildcat could be handled momentarily by the pair of bombers while he got into a better position. The second Wildcat had however also swung around and was doing damage to Nishihara's Val. Hiroyoshi also didn't see the approaching third enemy aircraft and was too focused on the kill.
186861
Nishihara took damage as his gunner Kagawa Teruyuki dished out the damage to the other fighter. Both planes engines started cutting in and out and they both cutting the throttle to 50% to assess the damage. "Flight leader, taking some heavy damage to my engine, requesting further instruction"
186862
As Kuramoto saw the what looked like a slow fluid leak out his wingman's engine he remembered back on the Captain's words to bring back the planes and men. "OK Nishihara, jettison your payload and return to the carrier, I don't believe you can make the flight there and back on that sort of damage".
186869
A reluctant Nishihara did as ordered and began a left bank to return to the Zuikaku. Takeru Kuramoto and Nishikido Ryo were now on their own, with the Zero out of position and two enemy planes bearing down on them they prepared for the fight of their lives.
186870
The returning Val's gunner continued to keep up the fire so long as the enemy fighters were in range. The Wildcat designated F-2 was having trouble getting enough distance to bring his guns to bear on the D3A that continued it's push. but threw in a stall and got off a close range burst. The veteran from the Pearl Harbor attacks threw in a defensive maneuver and avoided the worst of it, at the cost of a jammed rudder.
186871
Hiroyoshi was fighting to get back into the action, pinning the throttle and trying to catch up to the flight, noticing the one bomber break off from formation he cursed under his breath and urged his A6M2 to go faster. The second Wildcat misjudged and turned too far behind the Val, taking damage from Ryo's gun. His engine also started acting strange and he reduced power.
186872
Hiroyoshi now had time to catch up to the two damaged Wildcats and hopefully save the second bomber before it was too late. He had to reach them soon.
As he started gaining he saw fire burst from one of the fighters and felt a small sense of relief, which was soon deterred when he saw the American press the attack regardless.
186873
This plane maneuvered back into position and returned fire on the Val starting it smoking. The other F4F-3 was still having trouble finding the right speed, Kuramoto keeping the speed fairly consistent with his.
186874
Both planes continued exchanging fire while the F4F was taking damage from the flames as well. His own wingman had blocked his aim just as he tried to get into position and he took more steady fire from Ryo's gunnery.
186875
Then seeing the approaching Zero he attempted to turn into the attack but as the fire started entering the cockpit he decided it was time to bail out, before Hiroyoshi could claim the kill he had jumped and the plane crashed into the sea below.
186876
There was now only one left, Kuramoto decided to keep pressing the flight, he needed to at least spot these coastal guns, the next landing attempt counted on him to find and destroy them. He had flown expertly and kept it up as his gunner noticed the Captain getting closer. If they could only hold out a little longer. A well played slow maneuver just had the American too close again, slightly below the D3A but he didn't want to yank (pun intended) back on the stick for fear of crashing into the dive bomber. It was just enough time for Hanabusa to take aim at the enemy's crippled engine and kill it entirely (Sniper Skill used again, 0 ignored, engine damage given).
186877
The Zero regrouped with the bomber and they continued the flight. Upon reaching the island they managed to spot a couple of the guns and dropped a bomb with limited success. The mission was considered a draw. While they had attained air superiority by destroying three of the four remaining Wildcats they had failed to identify all the defensive positions and this caused more losses on the next landing attempt. However it had been a crucial turn in the Wake Island campaign and the men were congratulated as they returned to the Zuikaku.
A few hours later and they were in the air proceeding to the target. Nishihara was on his first mission that had potential to see action. His nerves ran high but he was methodical in the procedure, his training surpassing his emotion. It was due to this that he was the first to spot the enemy planes approaching.
186858
They came out of a cloud and pounced on the bombers but the flight was in a tight formation and was well prepared for an attack. Hanabusa used his skillful aim to do substantial damage (Sniper skill, 0 ignored, 8 applied) to one of the Wildcats, along with help from the veteran in the lead D3A1. Nishihara took some heavy damage but checked the systems and seemed OK to fly for now.
186859
Hiroyoshi had timed the attack perfectly and swung his aircraft around continuing a stream of fire into the F4F he had been attacking previously. At first his aim was a little off but he found his target and sent the first American down into the waves below.
186860
He had anticipated that the second Wildcat could be handled momentarily by the pair of bombers while he got into a better position. The second Wildcat had however also swung around and was doing damage to Nishihara's Val. Hiroyoshi also didn't see the approaching third enemy aircraft and was too focused on the kill.
186861
Nishihara took damage as his gunner Kagawa Teruyuki dished out the damage to the other fighter. Both planes engines started cutting in and out and they both cutting the throttle to 50% to assess the damage. "Flight leader, taking some heavy damage to my engine, requesting further instruction"
186862
As Kuramoto saw the what looked like a slow fluid leak out his wingman's engine he remembered back on the Captain's words to bring back the planes and men. "OK Nishihara, jettison your payload and return to the carrier, I don't believe you can make the flight there and back on that sort of damage".
186869
A reluctant Nishihara did as ordered and began a left bank to return to the Zuikaku. Takeru Kuramoto and Nishikido Ryo were now on their own, with the Zero out of position and two enemy planes bearing down on them they prepared for the fight of their lives.
186870
The returning Val's gunner continued to keep up the fire so long as the enemy fighters were in range. The Wildcat designated F-2 was having trouble getting enough distance to bring his guns to bear on the D3A that continued it's push. but threw in a stall and got off a close range burst. The veteran from the Pearl Harbor attacks threw in a defensive maneuver and avoided the worst of it, at the cost of a jammed rudder.
186871
Hiroyoshi was fighting to get back into the action, pinning the throttle and trying to catch up to the flight, noticing the one bomber break off from formation he cursed under his breath and urged his A6M2 to go faster. The second Wildcat misjudged and turned too far behind the Val, taking damage from Ryo's gun. His engine also started acting strange and he reduced power.
186872
Hiroyoshi now had time to catch up to the two damaged Wildcats and hopefully save the second bomber before it was too late. He had to reach them soon.
As he started gaining he saw fire burst from one of the fighters and felt a small sense of relief, which was soon deterred when he saw the American press the attack regardless.
186873
This plane maneuvered back into position and returned fire on the Val starting it smoking. The other F4F-3 was still having trouble finding the right speed, Kuramoto keeping the speed fairly consistent with his.
186874
Both planes continued exchanging fire while the F4F was taking damage from the flames as well. His own wingman had blocked his aim just as he tried to get into position and he took more steady fire from Ryo's gunnery.
186875
Then seeing the approaching Zero he attempted to turn into the attack but as the fire started entering the cockpit he decided it was time to bail out, before Hiroyoshi could claim the kill he had jumped and the plane crashed into the sea below.
186876
There was now only one left, Kuramoto decided to keep pressing the flight, he needed to at least spot these coastal guns, the next landing attempt counted on him to find and destroy them. He had flown expertly and kept it up as his gunner noticed the Captain getting closer. If they could only hold out a little longer. A well played slow maneuver just had the American too close again, slightly below the D3A but he didn't want to yank (pun intended) back on the stick for fear of crashing into the dive bomber. It was just enough time for Hanabusa to take aim at the enemy's crippled engine and kill it entirely (Sniper Skill used again, 0 ignored, engine damage given).
186877
The Zero regrouped with the bomber and they continued the flight. Upon reaching the island they managed to spot a couple of the guns and dropped a bomb with limited success. The mission was considered a draw. While they had attained air superiority by destroying three of the four remaining Wildcats they had failed to identify all the defensive positions and this caused more losses on the next landing attempt. However it had been a crucial turn in the Wake Island campaign and the men were congratulated as they returned to the Zuikaku.