Author Topic: Footholds & Toenails Frame 2 AAR  (Read 589 times)

Offline ghostdancer

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Footholds & Toenails Frame 2 AAR
« on: July 31, 2004, 09:12:51 AM »
Nightmares were tasked to hit A10 with TBMs and escorting F4Fs. Depending on the Gravediggers turnout (they were also to escort us in F4Fs) we were allowed to change the mix of F4Fs to TBMs. I didn’t expect the Gravediggers to show up since looking at the MA logs there CO and XO haven’t flown this tour, so I figured that the rest of the squad did not get emailed orderspassed onto them for the frame. Which would also be why they didn’t show for frame 1.

Three Gravediggers did show up and we briefed them on the attack plan.

So we launched out of CV25 (10,8,4/2) with 3 F4F Gravediggers, 12 F4F Nightmares (handle for last 2 would not set .. they had problems and ended up exiting and coming back later to try to fix), and 10 TBMs.

This force flew W to 8,8,5 to build up alt; TBMs climb slowly. We also took the route to avoid setting off IJN radar (which was a good thing since later we found out their was a IJN fleet at 9,9,2) and to try to flank the defenders and come in from an unexpected angle .. the SW.

Once at 8,8,5 we turned NE and struck toward A10. The Gravediggers were sent ahead to probe A10 to determined what was there while the Nightmares F4Fs staid 4K above the TBMs and off to the sides.

A10 proved to be clear of enemy (at least from the direction we were coming from) so the Gravediggers dropped their small bombs (they they got a gun) and then zoomed back up to their perch. Nightmares F4Fs took high station over A10 while the first TBM flight went in and took out the FHs. The second TBM flight came in and took out the BHs, a few guns and a fuel depot. Later Daddog reported damage to A10 to be at 60% to 70%.

About this time the F4Fs hollered that we had incoming KI61s and A6M5s .. I believe from the NE but wasn’t sure or if it was from the NW. Anyway the TBMs struck S on the deck while the F4Fs held positon for 5 minutes (to give us time to get clear) and then faded S by SE. It was while egressing S we ran into the IJN fleet at 9,9,2 and had to adjust to S by SE to avoid its AAA.

During the fall back Nightmares shot down 2 and lost 2-4 planes (I think 2 actually lost and then later 2 were counted lost due to damage and then accidents).

We started to head back to CV25 but AKiron then said he needed us to follow up on the strike at V38. So we changed course to land and rearm at A5 (long haul for us). During the flight there the DAMNED spotted the IJN fleet in 10,10,5 but died to a man before getting close enough to drop eggs. So AKiron told us to rearm at A5 and go after the IJN fleet instead while the AKs would rearm at A5 and strike V38 to follow up on the earlier USMC strike.

The Gravediggers lost all their planes do to fuel exhaustion. My fault .. I should have sent them back to CV25 after they dropped their eggs. Instead kept them to long capping A10.

We landed 9 TBMs (lost 1 to fuel leak) and 10 F4Fs at A5 and then found out that taxing those planes on the ground to the rearm pad is bit more difficult than in AH1. Do to various accidents trying to rearm we ended only launching 5 TBMs and 7 F4Fs out of A5. We launched out to 11,8,1 as our rally point just as the IJN forces triggered base under attack alerts at A5, V4 and then P31. We were able to slip away to the SW undetected.

Rallying at 11,8,1 we formed up and built alt and then headed to 10,8,8 and once their turned N and zoomed to 10,10,5. We lost 1 TBM to a CTD so when we got to 10,10,5 we had 4 TBMs and 7 F4Fs. There wasn’t a IJN fighter in sight (nor did we spot any along the way although their were a few suspicious dots we managed to avoid and not get spotted by to our E).

The F4Fs dove in to draw the AAA fire of the fleet and then the TBMs went in. We sank 2 DDs from our bombs and then while the F4Fs danced over head drawing fire we put down the third DD with rockets. Well actually almost with Rockets an F4F got the kill message on the 3rd DD when he scrafed it.

I think we hit the IJN fleet around T+90 or T+95.

We then zoomed back to S as fast as we could and landed at CV25. I think we landed with just minutes to spare.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2004, 10:30:26 AM by ghostdancer »
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Offline ghostdancer

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Footholds & Toenails Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2004, 09:14:53 AM »
Oh, yeah .. while attacking the DDs my TBM took some damage. I had my right gear shot out. I didn't have time to fly to A5 to try a belly landing so I was forced to belly land on CV25. Was heart pounding. Here is the results of my attempt . . .



You think the Admiral is going to be pissed I scraped his deck, lost wings and bent a prop? ;)

Oh, and as for Daddog's bounty on my hide .. na-na-nah-na! ;)
X.O. 29th TFT, "We Move Mountains"
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Offline Puck

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Footholds & Toenails Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2004, 10:27:54 AM »
Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.

If they can re-use the aircraft it's a GREAT landing.

(If they have to carry you off in a stretcher it's just an ok landing)
//c coad  c coad run  run coad run
main (){char _[]={"S~||(iuv{nkx%K9Y$hzhhd\x0c"},__
,___=1;for(__=___>>___;__<((___<<___<<___<<___<<___
)+(___<<___<<___<<___)-___);__+=___)putchar((_[__
])+(__/((___<<___)+___))-((___&

Offline daddog

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Footholds & Toenails Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2004, 02:27:53 PM »
332nd Launched 11 pilots from A9 in Vals and we were to find the enemy task group in the 11.8 sector. We also rolled with the Dogs of War (I ever tell you what a great name for a squad that is?) ;) Anyway the DOW were in Kates and they stayed on the deck. FATE were our escorts and they did an excellent job. In the 10.8 sector we came across an enemy task group and managed to avoid most of their flak. We had one Val damaged. We continued further east when reports of the enemy task group spotted in the 11.8.5 area steaming north west. About 10 minutes later we were heading right for it when we spotted a large CAP over their task group. We turned away so FATE could engaged. DOW were near the point of launching their torps. Nifty confirmed one torpedo hit, but we don’t know if that sunk a ship. FATE kept the enemy fighters busy enough so almost all of the Val’s made it over the enemy task group. Makarov and Nifty each sunk a DD. Several others in the squad scored good hits with their 500lb bomb which in turn killed much of ack on the DD’s. We all ran west but were intercepted by some F4U’s. Several Vals were shot down. Four of us landed back at 9. About 5 minutes later we all launched from A37 in Ki-61’s and headed for the enemy port only a sector away. We were with two others squads and spent about 10 minutes bombing and straffing the port. Several returned to base and launched a 2nd time to once again bomb and straff the port. There seems to have been a couple of targets at the port that could not be destroyed, or had a very high hardness setting. No enemy were spotted over the port. We had a free ride. :)
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Offline ghostdancer

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Footholds & Toenails Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2004, 02:55:03 PM »
Daddog was that much later in the frame .. the strikes on the port by you guys?

I think the AKs were defending the port but around T+80 switches and went to A5 to rearm and reform to strike at V38.
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Offline daddog

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Footholds & Toenails Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2004, 03:18:01 PM »
Rgr we hit the port in the 2nd hour. I "think" when we arived at the port their was about 40 minutes left in the frame.

I need to have all targets attacked in the first hour. If anyone did not see some action that is my fault for not telling the Frame C.O.'s to do so. I guess we just missed the AK's.
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Offline dfl8rms

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Footholds & Toenails Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2004, 07:11:24 PM »
ghostdancer,

We were landing  our second trip to p31 about the time your squad hit c3.   I think we landed about T+95.  With our first launch in ki61's around T+65.

The 2nd life ki61's were fortunate to still have a contingent of the FATE group around to provide top cover.  I think they may have engaged the CAP to the S of p31 as their flight path would have taken them from the 11,8 sector N over/around A5 and to p31 from the S/SW.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2004, 07:14:26 PM by dfl8rms »

Offline dtango

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Footholds & Toenails Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2004, 03:23:33 AM »
Here's what I thought occurred from my perspective as the tactical situation unfolded.

The IJN had a 2-stage plan that divided the squadrons into 3 roles - sweepers, strikers, and CAP.  Attached are the battle plan diagrams.  The sweepers were to attempt to establish local air superiority over the targets to be hit ahead of the strikers. The strikers were to take out C8 and P31.  The CAP would defend IJN bases and fleets.





Of course the plan met the hard cold axiom that all plans go to pot on contact with the enemy!  Here are the tatical highlights in my mind.

[list=num]
  • The Sky Nights assigned to anchor the IJN left (western) flank didn't show.  Their task was to CAP near A9 to defend the southern approach to C3 as well as use the C28 & C29 to as alert pickets and race west to intercept attacks into A10 from direct south.  This left a gap in the defense from about 10.9.5 and westward which the USN exploited to devastating effect later.  The fog of war definitely was present and I didn't re-assign 880 sqn to plug the hole.
  • A furious air battle ensued in 11.8 as the Ki-61's of the sweepers and strike escort clashed with the USN F4U-1's.  The IJN was able to establish local air superiority over C8 and mauled the USN downing around 21 aircraft (Sick Puppies- 6 kills, Fate- 4 kills, 412th - 11 kills) with minimal losses clearing the way for the strikers.  The exception were the Shillelaghs that lost 5 of 6 aircraft battling near V4.
  • Though the strikers lost about 10 of 28 aircraft they were able to sink 3 DD's, 2 by Vals, and 1 by torpedos from the Kates.
  • On the defense the USN (Nightmares) were able to exploit the defensive gap on the IJN left flank and were able to pummel A10 pretty much leaving unscathed after the raid.
  • The USN strike forces  headed into C3 weren't so lucky.  I'm not sure how it all occured but I think the couple layers of IJN defensive CAP of 880 sqn, JB's, BoP's, and Airmegs devastated the initial USN raids in the slot.  I'm guessing about 10+ USN a/c were downed in the process.
  • Stage-2 of the IJN strikes was initiated with pretty much no resistance from USN forces with P31 being hit unopposed and IJN fighters all around the area looking for aircraft to engage.  Because the Shills were lost earlier a sweep of A5 didn't occur again due to the fog of war which allowed the AK's and Nightmares to re-arm and roll attacks for C3 and V38 and missed being caught low near A5.
  • The IJN CAP defense once again vectored in and mauled the AK P-40 raid on V38 going straight into the teeth of the defenders.  However the left flank was left extremely exposed as IJN defenders collapsed in on defending V38 while the Nightmares were able to exploit the open left flank again to smack and sink 3 DD's of C3.


Anyway, that's my overall recap.  It sure was a blast :)!

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« Last Edit: August 01, 2004, 03:27:32 AM by dtango »
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Offline ghostdancer

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Footholds & Toenails Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #8 on: August 01, 2004, 10:50:06 AM »
OUCH .. not having the Sky Nights really hurt you guys dtango!

Nightmares swung way out W and actually came in from the 8,8 sector. Completely avoiding your two fleets except on egress. Looks like we were in and almost out before you got other squads up to try to cover. Did III/JABO and 880 get to A10 .. I had reports of KI-61s and A6M5s from my fighter cap on egress.

As for the second strike yep .. looks like we lucked out again and scooted around you guys and found an open flank. Of course the AKs attack drawing you to the east helped us.

Was a good night and interesting fighting all the way around.

Now for frame 3.
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Offline rshubert

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« Reply #9 on: August 02, 2004, 03:38:52 PM »
As the "second line" cap group, we spent a lot of time patrolling and positioning for the first hour.  Then the C3 attack came in, we were in just the right place, and we pounced!  Between us, airmeg, and the jbs they all went down.

Then returned to V38 area and killed a pesky p40 or two.  Rtb'd to a37, refueled and rearmed.  Squadron commander lost his prop on landing (me) due to general clumsiness.

The squad took off and strafed P31 for the last act of the frame, getting good hits and destroying a couple of objects.

The two layer defense plan worked, to a "T".  We need to communicate a bit better in these no-dar scenarios, however, since we were well positioned to defend the Vbase, but had no idea that any enemy were inbound until it started flashing.



shubie