Author Topic: Frame 2 AAR  (Read 645 times)

Offline Kurt

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Frame 2 AAR
« on: September 23, 2006, 12:59:01 AM »
Clowns of Death Fielded 6 formations of B26 out of A32 for A1.  We were tracking with 9GIAP squad on our inbound legs.

9GIAP turned in early after take off placing themselves well ahead of us and I think leveled at a lower altitude.  This placed them over the target about 10 minutes ahead of us in heavy resistance at their altitude.

Clowns made the approach point about the time that 9GIAP was taking heavy losses we went in knowing they got only one of their targets due to fearsome resistance of N1k's and KI84s.  They said perhaps 40 were in the area.

I believed we were about 5k higher than 9Giap and soothed my nervous squad 'The bogeys are going to be well below us, that will buy us time...Don't worry.  I also figured that the Axis birds would follow 9giap after departure.

I wasn't entirely correct... We ran into firm resistance beginning about 10 miles prior to A1.  I knew that 9Giap had taken heavy losses and that their targets weren't effectively hit, I split my squad into two flights of 3 formations, one on A41 as clean up for 9giap and the other for our initial target A1.

We had several brief skirmishes with KI84's and N1K prior to bombs away.  One of our pilots, nick was shot down on approach, my plane was leaking fuel and lost an engine.  We killed two or three during the approach.  Most of the fighters tailed my X.O's group into A41 leaving me Dagger and Gaidin to work on A1, we took our hangers clean in one pass.

Chatter was fast and furious calling bogeys, Dagger was lost over A1 shortly after making a successful drop, but did bail out, I'm just hoping our guys pulled him out of the water and not the enemy.

Tonk called in that one Bomber hanger on A41 remained, he was out of bombs but bravely made a 270 degree left turn to follow me back to the target and destory it offering nothing more than gun cover.  

My X.O was shot down after his attack and Gaidin was lost on the return to A32.  Tonk and I soldiered on fighting moderate resistance most of the way home.

I began a steep descent into 32 from about 25 miles out and the base was clear.  Radio reported a bandit inbound and my gunner called out a high bandit at 7 o'clock... I was at about 500ft AGL on approach, nothing to do now but out run him to the runway!

Tonk still with me held his altitude and sacraficed him self bravely keeping the KI84 away from me.

I skidded to a stop not knowing the fate of my wingman Tonk, as the wheels came to a stop I killed the engines and ran from the plane as the KI84 swooped down destroying it on the runway.  I didn't stop running till I reached the tower.

Some survivers of 9Giap were there, they saw that dramatic landing and congratulated me, but my joy was short lived as the radio cracked the loss of my brave wingman Tonk...  That plus the uncertain fate of so many of my squad stole my brief joy... I landed alone of my squad.  I hope I am reunited with the survivors soon.

Great Work Allies!
Good Fight Axis!

Thank you Clowns of Death!
« Last Edit: September 23, 2006, 01:05:37 AM by Kurt »
--Kurt
Supreme Exalted Grand Pooh-bah Clown
Clowns of Death <Now Defunct>
'A pair of jokers beats a pair of aces'

Offline FiLtH

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Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2006, 01:27:16 AM »
Great AAR!

~AoM~

Offline Kurt

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Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #2 on: September 23, 2006, 01:31:05 AM »
Thanks Filth...

You owe me a beer from shooting my boys in Frame 1  :aok
--Kurt
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Clowns of Death <Now Defunct>
'A pair of jokers beats a pair of aces'

Offline Dantoo

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Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #3 on: September 23, 2006, 01:46:44 AM »
Very nice write up!

I will add what I can.  We levelled at 10k so we did put some distance on the Clowns.  I didn't worry much as I figured we would most likely get bombs off and drag through allowing them to finish up.

From studying the logs I believe that timing was a huge factor in what happened at the target area.  I called about 40 cons protecting the target but looking at the logs it seems I may have undercounted.  3 Ki-61 squads, a N1K squad and a Ki84 squad (at least) shared up our carcases.  That added up to over 50 before I stopped looking. There was perhaps more.   Why were they all there?  It would appear that many of these planes had finished their opening mission and had returned  to base.  The strikes by our F4U's then focused them.  When we arrived, just after the F4Us, they were all there, all up and all hungry.  There is a chance that most of their fighter aircraft were in the area at that time, both defenders and attackers.  Tough luck.

I was the only one of our group to get bombs out and I did get a hangar.  I managed to take the wings off about 5 of my protaganists before I went down under a pile of red.

We were not successful in dragging the cons out because we didn't live past the target area and most didnt even get to it.  As soon as the guys went to bombsight they were swarmed and lost the planes.  I am guessing that we probably did empty the ammo out of the Ki61's anyway so maybe they didn't figure so much for the second group?

There is a problem in having target fields very close together.  It allows all the defenders to simply to climb up and swarm down.  At best you might get a 2 minute furball out of it.  When attackers come through piecemeal, it means they end up being a meal of pieces.   If you have lesser numbers to begin with then you are in trouble.  The major problem then is that you have the whole show effectively over in less than an hour.
I get really really tired of selective realism disguised as a desire to make bombers easier to kill.

HiTech

Matthew 24:28 For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together.

Offline Kurt

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Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2006, 02:02:38 AM »
for softening the resistance...


I somehow think they didn't expect another group 10 minutes behind you and may have started to disperse.

Also, if you were at 10k, then my estimate was correct, we came in at 15k, they had a hard climb to intercept us, especially if they were heading down to rearm for the bullets they lost on you... Timing is everything.

Great work.  I also saw many of your 9GIAP defending the carriers very late in the frame... This week we saved two carriers vs none last week... I think this frame will look a little prettier than the last one when the scores are released.
--Kurt
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'A pair of jokers beats a pair of aces'

Offline BlkKnit

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Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2006, 01:25:55 PM »
The initial attacks were supposed to drag those defenders down and away. My apologies for being out of communications last night.  Discoed 4 times trying to get going, and turned it all over to 38MAW (who was not privy to my ideas, just the basics of the plan).  That the enemy was able to attack /return/rearm and then get altitude and be waiting with such high concentrations is a bit of a shock.  I mean i know its possible, but didn't think it likely.  Of course, they had about 40 extra pilots, so that hurt.  Is it possible that they were mostly planes from the initial defense?

I had thought they would saddle up for a second try at our bases by the time our buffs showed up.  And they may have, for all I know.  I really wish I had been there.

What happened on their initial attacks?  Were we able to put up a defense?  Were the 19 F6F's added to the fray?  I saw that Bad Co. was undermanned, so I realize that they were not really able to add much weight.  Damned was also low and that hurt.

I knew we might be facing a difficult task, and that attendance might be poor, but had to plan as if we were running as normal.  Again my apologies.

BTW, how many hangars we get?  How many they get?

Once a Knight is Never Enough

Offline Kurt

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Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2006, 02:27:00 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by BlkKnit

BTW, how many hangars we get?  How many they get?


We got all but one hanger at A41 and A1.. One fighter hanger remained up.  I do not know how much damage they did to us.
--Kurt
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Clowns of Death <Now Defunct>
'A pair of jokers beats a pair of aces'

Offline Dantoo

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Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2006, 04:43:06 PM »
At end of frame all hangars at 3 target fields were dead.


They got everything but 2 of the cvs.
I get really really tired of selective realism disguised as a desire to make bombers easier to kill.

HiTech

Matthew 24:28 For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together.

Offline TracerX

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Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2006, 06:58:46 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Dantoo
At end of frame all hangars at 3 target fields were dead.


They got everything but 2 of the cvs.


Dantoo is Correct.  A last minute suicide attack from two USMC pilots and one MAW (D7MAW) in F4u's took down the last hanger at A41.  We took off out of C8 and took a northerly approach at 20K around the north side of V4, squeezing between the two radar fields, we approached the target in a shallow dive at 400+ MPH.  The plan was to drop our three eggs on the target and get the heck out of Dodge.  Unfortunately I toggled off my bomb, and droped nothing on my first pass.  We all looped over, dumping all of our speed, and droped the hanger.  I think we would have all been able to make it home safely had I managed my ordinance better, but on the egress, both my other squaddie and D7MAW got gobbled up by N1K2's and KI-84's.  I was fortunate to be able to stay ahead of the horde chasing me, and returned to C8 to land just as the closest enemy came into gun range of the CV.

It was a desperate act, but the Hangers were all down at end of Frame.   It was a blast.

Offline Lunger

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Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2006, 10:57:28 AM »
As I watched the last flight depart CV8 I had a feeling deep down inside that few would return. on taking out the last hanger!!! Another to all of those that pulled defense on the CV's to keep them alive at the end. I beleive that was a major upset to the Axis not destroying the last 2 CV's.
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Offline BlkKnit

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Frame 2 AAR
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2006, 12:28:56 PM »
heh, sounds like ya'll made good efforts no matter what the end result.

 BTW Lunger, my mom and sister live at Wynne.

Once a Knight is Never Enough