Proving yet again to be an aspiring member of the International Procrastinator's Club, here is an AAR of my 5th scenario in the solo campaign game which was played last June -- I'm finally getting around to posting the AAR ! At this rate the 6th and final AAR (Yorktown Down!) should be posted sometime after the holidays.... Anyway, here goes:
With the speakers booming the complete Richard Rogers score of Victory at Sea my intrepid squadron once again faces the enemy:
Turns 1 & 2 :
Akagi is in the center of the map with 2 Zeroes on CAP, 1 Zero reinforcement (per scenario) to enter at the indicated time. 2 Wildcats (marked F-2, and F-3) and 2 Dauntless dive bombers enter from the edge of the map.
The dive bombers and fighter escort approach at slow speed. Zeroes separate with Camo Zero heading for the bombers and Blue Stripe Zero heads for the fighters.
Turns 3 & 4 :
Proximity of the fighters triggers the reinforcement Zero to enter. Both USN Wildcats fire long range at the Blue Stripe Zero scoring 0 points and 3 points of damage respectively. Blue Stripe Zero returns fire at F-2 Wildcat (0 points damage) and Akagi fires AA at F-2 (to no effect). Dive Bombers begin to align for bombing run. Turn 4 sees Zeroes climb.
Turns 5 & 6 :
Turn 5 --Blue Stripe Zero fires long range on Blue Tail Dauntless (0 points) and takes close range fire from F-3 Wildcat which inflicts 7 points damage, right rudder damage on the Zero. Akagi fires AA on F-3 Wildcat, again to no effect (they clearly need some gunnery practice). The Dauntlesses continue to align for their bombing run while descending for their dive.
Turn 6 -- A general fight ensues. Blue Stripe Zero fires close range on White Tail Dauntless (11 points damage, tail gunner wounded). White Tail Dauntless fires forward guns at Blue Stripe Zero inflicting 4 points of damage and an engine hit. White Tail Dauntless fires rear guns at Camo Zero 7 points damage, engine hit)who returns fire. Blue Tail Dauntless fires rear guns at Blue Strip Zero causing 8 points damage and shooting it down. F-3 Wildcat fires long range on Camo Zero scoring 2 points damage. Akagi fires AA at F-3, again missing!
Turns 7 & 8 :
Turn 7 --White Tail Dauntless rear gunner was wounded on last turn so cannot fire at Camo Zero. However, F-3 Wildcat fires at close range on Camo Zero . Blue Tail Dauntless releases bomb causing partial damage on Akagi. Red Stripe Zero fires long range at the Dauntless and misses! Akagi fires AA at both bombers and finally hits something -- BOOM ! for Blue Tail Dauntless and 7 points on White Tail Dauntless, shooting it down.
Turn 8 -- Wildcats attempt to break off and head back to carrier while Zeroes attempt to engage. F-2 fires long range at Camo Zero (2points) Akagi fires AA at F-2 Wildcat and reverts to form (no effect).
Turns 9 & 10 :
Turn 9 -- Wildcats make one final run at Zeroes, Camo tries to get back to carrier, Red Stripe tries to cover his retreat. Red Stripe Zero fires long range on F-3 Wildcat and misses. F-2 Wildcat fires close range at Camo Zero inflicting 2 points damage and shooting him down (Lcdr. Moore now has 2.83 victories for the campaign). Akagi fires AA at Moore with no effect.
Turn 10 -- All maneuver to engage with no firing.
Turns 11 & 12 :
Turn 11 -- Both Wildcats Immelmann, the Zero goes straight. F-2 Wildcat fires short range at Red Strip Zero:
Turn 12 -- Red Stripe Zero attempts to get back to Akagi, Wildcats go straight out of their Immelmans. F-3 Wildcat fires long range on Red Stripe Zero and misses.
Turn 13 :
Both Wildcats make a final pass before breaking off the engagement. Simultaneous fire yields deadly results: F-2 fires short range (8 points and 2nd pilot wound) while F-3 fires long range and BOOM! shooting down Red Stripe Zero. Each pilot awarded 0.5 victories (Lcdr. Moore now has 3.33 and Sims now has 2.0 victories for the campaign).
The Butcher's Bill:
Squadron Campaign Status Update
F-2 Lcdr. Sterling Moore (3.33 victories)
F-3 Lt.j.g. William ("Lucky Billy") Sims (2.0 victories)
F-4 Lt. Robert Johnson (replacement arriving for next mission with Ace and Veteran status)
F-7 Ensign Jimmy Crosby (1.5 victories)
KIA-- Lt. j.g. John Saunders, DFC (4.5 victories) & Lt. j.g. Gary Hughes (2.33 victories)
Bookmarks