The Battles for Brewer part 3
Secrets Stolen.
An American destroyer has been sunk in the Slot. Days later a PBY flying a recon patrol spotted some Japanese fast boats gathered around the wreck. At low tide, the higher parts of the ship were now exposed. On a second pass, risking machine gun fire, they noticed the Japanese removing what they were sure was the range-finding radar. This info was radioed back to base. Where they were taking it was of the greatest importance. The PBY only had fuel for a couple more hours circling the activity below. The PBY they flew a circle several miles away as long as they could until a relieving PBY appeared.
Later when the Japanese got what they wanted they headed east. The 2nd PBY watched until it was determined Tulagi was their destination. Time was short. As this information was received three P-39s, the only planes available, were sent out. Tulagi was a seaplane base for the Japanese. It was surmised the Japanese would fly the parts out as soon as they could. This could not be allowed!
Our scenario was three P-39s attacking the Tulagi float plane base. Taking off from the coast where two float planes (one of them carrying the radar parts, randomly to be determined after the game was done) with three A5M Claude’s on patrol. There was a B firing Japanese gunboat in the shallows and a large cloud obscuring it from the closing P-39s. The float planes had to exit the far edge of the board. The gunboats could not shoot on the first move that the P-39s flew past the clouds. We flew on one coastal mat.
The P-39s came in fast just above the cloud tops.
Timing of the American strike was in the nick of time as a pair of float planes was taking off, heading to Buin on Bougainville, then on to Rabaul.
The crew of the gunboat sit peacefully, watching the float planes began their run and lift out of the water.
Rendezvousing with the float planes on takeoff were three Claudes.
(all but one P-39 are Dave’s beauties!)
Two P-39s head straight to the harbor while a third engages the Claude on the left.
A close encounter prevents #3 from firing as he collides with a Claude, taking the worst of the contact.
Admiral Yamamoto points at the gunboat and tells it to get ready fast. The Americans are coming!
One American in the clouds, another zooming just above a floatplane with a third attacking from the flank. The Japanese are in a bit of confusion with the Americans all around. The gunboat is hesitant to fire, not wanting to hit their own. If they shot down a float plane, especially the one with the radar parts, they would be infantry in the morning.
The gunboat finally gets a clean shot and make an American pay.
One Claude is ripped apart ignoring the Claude peppering his starboard flank. The float planes hide in the cloud avoiding the fighting.
As they emerge from the cloud a Claude passes dangerously close between them.
The gunboat scores again on a different P-39.
Ignoring the gunboat and reversing in range, a P-39 pays a stiff price and is downed by the navy gunners. Banzi!
The last two P-39s gain on the slower float planes. One P-39 misses but the other scores a solid hit.
The float planes concentrate on one American and bot score.
The float planes keep concentrating on the one P-39. The Americans concentrate on the leading float plane and knock it out of the sky.
With a cloudbank in sight (the board edge) the Americans have little time left to stop the remaining Jap who may have the important radar parts.
The P-39 on the left is out of contact so it’s up to one shot.
#3 hits the biplane, not enough to take it down but kills the pilot with his second wound!
The biplane slowly spirals into the sea to the relief of the Americans.
Without a pilot wound the float plane would have escaped. A very near run thing for the Americans to save their radar technology from the enemy.
We will never know which float plane was carrying the important radar bits.
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