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Thread: Yorktown down! (Marechallannes US Navy)

  1. #1

    Default Yorktown down! (Marechallannes US Navy)

    Scenario 6: Yorktown down!

    4th June 1942, 11:00 am, the Imperial Japanese Navy Carrier Hiryu launches a wave of Aichi Val dive bombers with escort fighters to attack the USS Yorktown, spotted by a Japanese recon plane before.




    An hour later, the Yorktown’s radar detects two waves of incoming enemy planes. But the radar officer misjudges the altitude an the entire Yorktown’s Combat Air Patrol expects the enemy wave at a lower altitude.



    This moment a part of the USS Hornet’s CAP becomes the advice via radio to support the defense of the USS Yorktown. Lt.JG. Kyte with his brand new Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat and Lt. JG. Heston with his Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat are in the best position at the moment and head for the higher flying Japanese planes.



    Japanes Aichi Val dive bombers dive bombers, escorted by Mitsubishi A6M fighter planes head for the US Carrier.

    Down below them, a flight of Kate B5N prepares for the torpedo run.




    The situation when the USS Hornet’s CAP receives the radio message:



    Kyte & Heston head full speed for the incoming bombers, but as well that they are in a good position, it’s nearly impossible to blast the bomber formation before the Japs reach the Yorktown.



    The Zeros increase their speed too, heading directly at the US Wildcats. The Japanese pilots know, that the US pilots can’t irgnore them without risking high damages.



    Fortunately the green is in an unvavourable position and can’t shoot at Kyte’s Wildcat, but his wingman blast a full burst of cannon and machine gun bullets in the US planes fuselage.

    The same time, the dive bombers opens fire at the Wildcats, too.

    Heston’s plane suffers only a light damage, but the combined fire of the Zero and the Val damages Kyte’s plane really heavy.

    The return fire isn’t that bad, but neither the bombers is critical hit nor the Zero gets that damage from the US plane’s 0.50 cal machine guns.



    The fighters pass each other and Heston is able to concentrate his fire on the second Val dive bomber, causing a certain damage and take of the bomber’s rear gunner.



    The Japanese fighters begin to torn to attack the US planes again.
    Meanwhile the Wildcats perform Immelmann maneuvers and are able to get right on the six o’clock positions of the dive bombers.


    Heston fires immediately at the second bomber when he comes out out of the half loop. He’s able to hit the Jap...



    ...but it’s to late, the first Val dive bomber commences his dive bombing run to hit the US carrier.

    The CV’s AA fire is split up between the attacking torpedo planes and the dive bombers, A chance for the Wildcat’s to follow the attackers.



    Heston is able to fire again at the second bomber, that starts his dive bomb run too, but he doesn’t cause enough damage to shoot it down.

    God damn,“ he thinks, „the Japs are through!

    The leading Val bomber releases his bomb an a few second later a big explosion on the deck of the rear end shakes the USS Yorktown down below.



    A third Wildcat of the USS Hornet’s CAP comes in range. It’s Ensign Jeremy Taylor’s Grumman FM-1 Wildcat.



    Heston and Kyte dive to follow the bombers but again, they’re not able to intercept the second bombers before it releases his bombload.

    Heston’s Wildcat overshoots the bomber and a second explosion on the ships deck, near the island, shakes the USS Yorktown.




    The only positive fact in this moment is the circumstance, that the Japanese bomber pilot is too busy to open fire ar the US plane.



    The leading dive bomber turns away into the direction of his fighter escort, but the second one turns left, right in front of Lt.JG. Kyte machine gun fire.

    The 0.50 cal bullets rip the complete flank of the Val. The Jap pilot lost control over his bomber and the crippled plane falls down into the sea.



    Meanwhile Ensign Taylor is able to catch up with his comrades and the three US pilots of VF-8 are angy and determined to hunt down the attackers.



    The bomber’s gunner realizes the danger and after a short burst after Heston’S F4F-4 he concentrates now on Kyte’s already damaged F4F-3.




    Kyte and Taylor come in range and shoot at the bomber, that tries to escape.

    The US planes damage the Val, but the rear gunner has good shooting abilities and more and more bullets of his 7,7-mm-MG Typ 99 hit Kyte’s Wildcat.

    Both are not willing to surrender.




    The concentrated fire of the US planes brings the jap bomber finally down in flames, but a last burst from the rear gunner’s MG sealed the fate of Kyte’s plane, too.



    A hard fight ends when both planes are going down in wide curves.

    Heston and Taylor have no time to watch after their comrade and need to pay attention to the remaining escort fighters. Especially Taylor has no time to feel happy about his first shared kill.



    The green Zero curves in and burst a full salvo into Taylor’s machine and damages it’s engine.

    The US pilot’s return fire isn’t that precise, but combined with Heston’s burst from the six o’clock position behind the Jap it’s enough.




    Another shared victory for Ensign Taylor! This time with the assistance of his comrade Lt.JG. Heston.



    The remaining Zero has finished his Immelmann and passes the Wildcats without a chance to fire at them.



    Heston leads his plane with full speed into an half loop and manges to place a long burst from his six MGs right into the center fuselage of the Zero.



    The damage is too high to keep the Zero in the air and the plane follows his comrade into the blue waters of the Pacific.



    Heston oders his comrade via radio back into formation and the fighters return to the carriers.

    They pass the position were Kyte’s plane was shot down, but couldn’t spot him. Heston transfers the position data via radio to the Task Force.


    Last edited by Marechallannes; 06-23-2013 at 11:42.

  2. #2

    Default

    Mission accomplished!

    I wasn’t able to prevent the dive bombers from hitting the USS Yorktown, but this wasn’t the main goal of this historic scenario.

    It’s not easy to enter and flight through a formation of four enemy planes, especially when some of them have rear gunners.

    The bad maneuver of the second Zero and the death of the secnond Val’s gunner gave my boys the time the made pay a high price for their sucessfull bombing.

    Otherwise they would have shot down Kyte right with the first encounter, again. So he had a few minutes more to fight the Japs.

    I hope the best and will determine his fate, soon. (...done = KIA )




    US fighters:

    Lt.JG. Albert Kyte - shot down KIA



    Japanese bombers:



    Japanese Fighters:

    Last edited by Marechallannes; 06-23-2013 at 12:45.

  3. #3

    Default

    I am sorry to hear about young Kyte. Although only a distant relative, blood is thicker than water, unless you happen to live in Ankh Morpork.
    I do hope the damage to the Yorktown was not as bad as in reality. Just you keep those Torpedo Bombers away.
    Great AAR as usual.
    Thanks for sharing it,
    Kyte.

  4. #4

    Default

    Thank you, Rob.

    Bad news: The sent Catalina and nearby ships weren't able to locate Lt.JG. Albert Kyte or any evidences of his fate.

    I'm afraid he paid his engagement with his life.

    Crash roll for Lt.JG. Kyte:

    1d6 → [2] = (2) = KIA

    http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4101464/

  5. #5

    Default

    Very sad Sven, but I'm sure that he will be avenged!
    Kyte.

  6. #6

    Default

    Indeed, Rob.

    I'll continue the campaign in New Guinea - together with the USAAF and the Australian and British Allies.

    A final salute for the dead pilot:


  7. #7

    Default

    Great AAR. Action all the way. Make me want to get into this furball quicker. I hope to open my account tomorrow. Hopefully I'll catch up in a few weeks.

  8. #8

    Default

    Thank you comrade.

    The first picture (stating Vals) is inspired by your squadron thread picture.



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