Cold Wars Game3 Troubles at Home
This mission has a flight of Hellcats raiding the Japanese base at Madang. The airfield and any targets of opportunity in the harbor are on the agenda, besides any Japanese aircraft in the air or on the ground.
One player disappeared after the first move so I stood in and flew his Ki-84. Nothing like having an unbiased GM!
Pilots were, (see number on front of base, *= aerodrome member)
Japanese army Air Force
1 Unbiased GM*
3 Joe
5 David
7 Mike*
USN Air Force
2 John*
4 Tom
6 Bob*
8 Chuck
4 USN Hellcats come in from the west catching the harbor CAP off guard. The Ki-84s quickly respond once the intruders are spotted.
Two pairs of Ki-84s maneuver to take on 2 pairs of Hellcats.
First shots taken between the opposing forces. Keeping the Hellcats was not easy as they had plenty of other targets to go after.
First shots at extreme close range! These two pilots played chicken to the last microsecond.
John quickly gets to strafing the ground facilities at the airfield.
The first air kill goes to Chuck as Joe’s Hayete couldn’t take much after its previous close exchange.
Getting to the harbor area practically unopposed a Japanese transport full of ammunition explodes when shot at by Bob.
The Japanese desperately head to the harbor to protect the transports.
After downing one Ki-84 Chuck turned his attention to the airfield. Mike flies over watching from a safe distance.
David chases away one Hellcat from the harbor.
I put a little pressure on Chuck and Tom but have a difficult time engaging due to the engine damage I have.
Once past me Chuck attacks the ships. Only one destroyer can put up any defense.
Finally something for the Japanese to celebrate. John is downed but not until after his run on mayhem through the harbor.
Bob gets in a strafing run on the Fuku Maru unimpeded.
The air base take more damage from John’s respawn.
Defend the harbor? Defend the air base? The Japanese are having difficulty being where they need to be.
Bob destroys a hangar complex but pays the price as I slowly swoop in on his flank.
The action over the harbor heats up as Joe(Ki-84) and Tom(134) go toe to toe.
After punishing the air base John makes off with me after him.
Tom and Chuck take aim at the remaining undestroyed facility.
Chuck gets the killing shot as the last of the structures collapse in the flames.
Joe has difficulty seeing anything with all the smoke in his cockpit.
Bob(respawn) has an eye on the shipping but is wary of the two Japanese in the area.
Bob gets past Joe but is a bit too high to attach the ships below.
John ziggs when he should have zagged and flies in front of my guns. Down goes John again.
With the airfield facilities all in ruin Tom heads back towards the harbor.
Now its Chuck’s turn to fly in front of my guns….that Hellcat is going to hell!
Bob takes some hits as he tries to finish off the Fuku Mary.
Too many hits and Bob splashes into the bay.
Joe finds another Hellcat at close range and obliterates it. Tom finds himself swimming next to Bob.
Its not all going the Japanese way in the air. David falls to the guns of Bob III.
After countless attempts, the Fuku Maru finally is destroyed by Chuck…but not without taking some lead up the backside.
Chuck then finishes off another transport trying to reach open waters.
Chuck’s luck has run out and I send him into the drink with Bob and Tom.
Overall it was a brutal affair. 10 planes shot down, the airfield facilities totally destroyed and three transports sunk. The USN concentrated on the ground and sea targets doing yeoman's work but paying the price with 8 of their planes going down.
Total score was 70 USN to 62 IAAF.
Mike, not a lover of fast WW2 planes as we know from his last flight with a Hellcat, flew all over the board but had minimal impact on the outcome.
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