-Saturday edition of "Kurita surprise" AAR-
We ran three rounds, but the first one was just a quick test run won by IJN, so this AAR will depict only round 2 and 3.
ROUND 2
As soon as USN Catalinas spotted the enemy a wing of TBF was launched, the inexpert admiral Busc also ordered both the american taskgroups turn to directly intercept the enemy as soon as possible
The leader of IJN admiral Ghostamoto, a very well versed and experienced seahunter, knew it was an error..
In fact just after the first wave of TBFs managed to reach and hit the enemy, the IJN warships reached gun combat distance, beginning to fire.
IJN had a clear firepower superiority, japaneese gunners were aiming on the bigger targets, the aircraft carriers.
One after the other the carriers were lost, and with them the only advantage of the USN.
The remnants of the american taskgroups bravely decided not to try disengaging.
The final outcome was dramatic, the USN were completely anhillated, while the IJN lost only 3 warships. It was a total Japaneese victory
ROUND 3
This time USN, having learned from his previous experience, decided to try avoiding a close engagement and use its only advantage, the Avengers.
In fact when at 3.30 pm an USN Floating boat spotted the enemy 30 miles away NW of the american ships a first wave of TBFs was immediatly launched, while all the ships were ordere to turn 180 to avoi interception.
The TBF pilots displayed great courage and ability: in spite of the fury of the defenders, they succeeded to inflict most serious losses to the Japanese fleet, sinking one destroyer and damaging a cruiser.
This game was repeated again and again: the USN losing many of its planes but always managing to hurt the enemy hard.
The results achieved were great, 9 enemy warships were sunk, and even the admiral Ghosthamoto was wounded when his personal PT boat was attacked and destroyed by the americans.
Bytheway very high losses were suffered amongst the TBF crews (21 aircrafts were destroyed by enemy fire).
Some long range gun combat was tried at the end of the day, just before the two fleets had to disengage definitively.
During this phase the IJN scored some hits, destroying a cruiser.
-round two scores-
US NAVY:
1 cruiser sunk (400)
9 destroyers sunk (900)
1 PT boat sunk (10 pts)
total: 1310 pts
Imperial Japaneese Navy:
1 cruiser sunk (400)
21 TBFs shoot down (210)
total: 610 pts
Gold Medals awarded:
- Ensign MrSmiley, USN, TBF pilot for sinkin several destroyers.
- Lieutenant Witch, USN, TBF pilot for sinking a cruiser.
- Ensign Minus,IJN, ship gunner, for shooting down several enemy aircrafts.
