Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Axis vs Allies => Topic started by: captain1ma on March 14, 2012, 08:31:50 AM
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(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc42/Johnvan52/SA.png?t=1304128218)
Soromon No Sora O Ketsu Ni Somete or (Blood Bath Over the Solomons)
Was a term used by a Japanese naval aviator to describe the aerial fighting over the Northern Solomon Islands in early 1943.
After the death of Admiral Yamamoto Admiral Koga took command of the Combined Fleet, he acted quickly to reinforce Rabaul's battered air force. On May 10th the 251st Air Group
transfered to Rabaul from Truk, joining the 204th and 582nd Air Groups. The reason for this reinforcement was to begin a battle of attrition against the Americans in the Solomons. In
the springtime of 1943 the attrition among Japanese naval pilots was becoming one of the most difficult problems the Rabaul Air Fleet Command had to face. US Marine pilots had been quick to learn not to dogfight with the A6M2. Flying their stubby but heavily armed and rugged F4F Wildcat fighters the USMC pilots had been a nasty suprise to the IJN fighter pilots flying from Rabaul who up until the Guadalcanal invasion the previous August had dominated the battles against USAAF P-39s operating out of Port Moresby New Guinea. The Battle of Guadalcanal ate up men and machines on both sides. By the time the Japanese evacuated the last of their troops from the island in February 1943 the Japanese Naval Air Forces dominance was gone never to return in the Solomons, the days of the all conquering Zero fighter were over. Losses in aircraft and more importantly trained combat pilots could not be easily replaced.In late 1942 the 2nd and 6th Kokutais began operating the newest version of the Zero, the A6M3 (Hamp). Faster and carrying more ammunition it was a slight improvement over the A6M2, however it could never be produced and delivered to the front in numbers sufficient to counter America's industrial might.The Japanese Army Air Force introduced the KI-61 Tony to the Southwest Pacific in the Spring of 1943 with the 68th Sentai operating the Tony from Wewak and the 78th Sentai flying it from Rabaul. The Ki-61 suffered a lot of teething troubles in the hot steamy climate of the Solomons and New Guinea. To make matters worse the Americans were beginning to bring new types of fighters into the South Pacific for all her services. The P-38F and F4U-1 were vast improvements over their predecessors the P-39 P-40 and F4F. The Japanese bomber forces were suffering as well. A shortage of bombers and escorts meant offensive actions were severely limited most times amounting to nothing more than nocturnal harassment raids.
This setup represents the late summer early fall of 1943 and focuses on the struggle between the IJAAF and IJNAF against the growing might of USN and USMC aviation in the Solomons. The IJN pilots are dependant on their war weary A6M2s and A6M3s. The USMC has fielded the F4U-1 Corsair in strength throughout the theater. While the last remaining USMC and USN F4F Wildcat squadrons were winding down operations from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. For the Japanese Army and Naval aviators things are quickly to go from bad to worse. Another new and deadly enemy had just started operating in the Solomons. In early September 1943 USN squadrons VF-33 VF-38 and VF-40 began operating the new Grumman F6F Hellcat from Munda field on New Georgia Island. By the end of the war the F6F Hellcat would be responsible for downing more Japanese aircraft than any other US fighter.
Setup:
Map- Guadalcanal
Allies= USN/USMC
Starting Bases- A6 A7 A8 A12 V10 V11
Aircraft:
F4F- *** A12 only
F4U-1
F6F *** A8 only No Rockets or 1000lb bombs.
SBD
TBM*** No Rockets.
B-25C *** A12 only
GVs:
M16
M3
M4A3/75
M8
Jeep
Axis= IJAAF/IJNAF
Starting Bases- A1 A2 A4 A5 A9 V3
Aircraft:
A6M2
A6M3
B5N
D3A
G4M *** A1 only
Ki-61*** A1 only
GVs
M3
M8
LVT4
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this is Puma44's setup and week, i just put this poster up for him. blame him if something goes wrong! :D
:noid
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Activate D11 jugs from a land base~ you will double the number of players using the arena :D
They were active during that time frame historically. :salute
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Activate D11 jugs from a land base~ you will double the number of players using the arena :D
They were active during that time frame historically. :salute
Not finding a source indicating P-47 Ds active in this area of the Pacific during this time, myself. The P-47N was the long-range variant developed for bomber escort duties in the Pacific Theatre (escorting B-29s, later in the war).
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You must not be looking very hard Arlo~ there is a wealth of information online and several excellent publications, many groups became active as early as April 1943 with olive drab D-1 and D-4 models and they operated with great success in air to air combat and later air to ground and even anti shipping roles.
Let me provide a few sources for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/348th_Fighter_Group
Printed material:
Thunderbolt: The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in the Pacific Arena by Ernest McDowell
Other P-47D fighter groups include:
35th FG, 58th FG, 348th FG, 15th FG, 318th FG, 508th FG and 49th FG
These are whole fighter groups with 4 squadrons per group, literally thousands were deployed in the theater.
We even have a lovely Razorback D skin in the game from the Pacific Arena 49FG/9FS by rogerdee
Some squadrons converted to N jugs others to P-51Ds in 1945 but razorback 47s operated until the last days of the war primarily in the Philippians.
I will grant you P-47s are often wrongly overshadowed by P-51s and P-38s~ 47s were the unsung workhorses of the USAAF in every arena barring Alaska.
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" ... the Northern Solomon Islands in early 1943 ... " - event setting
"After an extended period of training in the northeast United States, the personnel boarded the Army transport ship Henry Gibbons and left the wharf at Weehawken, New Jersey on 15 May 1943. They groups personnel all thought they were heading for the European theatre of war. However, they went through the Panama Canal instead and crossed the Pacific Ocean reaching Brisbane, Australia on 14 June 1943. They moved to Archer Field (Archerfield airfield) and waited for their aircraft to arrive.
The group's P-47D Thunderbolts began to arrive in Brisbane in the same month, and by the end of July after they had "run in" their engines on local training flights, the group began long-range missions to strike at Japanese targets in New Guinea. In mid-June the 348th's three squadrons (340th, 341st, 342d) made the 1,200-mile flight from Brisbane to Port Moresby ... " - your source.
I realize I may not be looking as hard as you but ... I'm also not looking as hard as you. :D
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Arlo~
To quote "This setup represents the late summer early fall of 1943" well within active P-47D squadron involvement in the SWPA. A few P-38 squads were converted to P-47s at that time as well because may 38's were war weary and no new replacements were available.
Granted P-47 squads were engaged further west in New Guinea but AvA is a rough historical simulation in a semi fictional map. Adding the 47 is not that big a stretch.
Respectfully,
Seadog36
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Hey you guys, don't care if I bring a bunch of pirates in Monday would you? What's the current icon range? Prefer FSO 3k but we'll try to adapt our old eyes to what you have if less :lol
:salute
BigRat
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Hey you guys, don't care if I bring a bunch of pirates in Monday would you? What's the current icon range? Prefer FSO 3k but we'll try to adapt our old eyes to what you have if less :lol
:salute
BigRat
Arrrrg...... Hi Big Rat ...Always a pleasure to see you guys in there...... 3K both sides is what Puma has it set for in the MOTD and Its confermend in the settings from what I just looked at.
:salute
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Arrrrg...... Hi Big Rat ...Always a pleasure to see you guys in there...... 3K both sides is what Puma has it set for in the MOTD and Its confermend in the settings from what I just looked at.
:salute
Thanks Raven,
That'll be perfect :aok
:salute
BigRat
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Today, eight P-47D-11s on a long range escort mission where forced to weather divert to airfield A12. The local theatre commander has commandeered the flight to provide addition air cover and fire power in support of his ground assets. The P-47s arrived with only centerline drop tanks and guns. Therefore they are in "come as you are status" and will require maintenance and armament support from local field commanders.
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Ahhhhh, alternate reality. I'll devote more on this later. I'm really kinda into it. If you think about it, we all are. :cool:
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Ahhhhh, alternate reality. I'll devote more on this later. I'm really kinda into it. If you think about it, we all are. :cool:
You are the best Puma~ I'll strap on a drop and go on a long range D11 alternate reality patrol. Hopefully I can find some IJN on weekdays. :salute
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What time you gents gonna be in on Monday?......let me know, Ill give you gents a KI61 to put holes in :D
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I'll be in and out this evening eastern time 6pm on~ look for you Seadog36
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Rgr, im gonna try for 730ish after my littleones homework is done
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VF-17 should be in around 9 central time :aok
:salute
BigRat
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Juggies in the Pacific...yep zeeks do turn AND burn
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n83/Urbanflotsom1/avaz4.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n83/Urbanflotsom1/avaz3.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n83/Urbanflotsom1/avaz2.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n83/Urbanflotsom1/avaz1.jpg)
Due to their proven performance of 23:1 kill to death ratio last night General Kenney of the 5th AF is requesting further P-47D deployment at additional airfields :salute
Great fights last night everyone~ counted 18 players...Impressive!
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Hey Puma~
They reset the arenas~ the setup is messed up and needs to be tweaked when u get a chance<S>
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If the US is going to get fake P-47s added, the Japanese should get fake Ki-84s or N1K2-Js.
Either stick with what was there or go full fantasy, don't put a 1944 fighter into something just because a fan of that fighter demands it.
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If the US is going to get fake P-47s added, the Japanese should get fake Ki-84s or N1K2-Js.
Either stick with what was there or go full fantasy, don't put a 1944 fighter into something just because a fan of that fighter demands it.
Missed seeing in you there, Karnak, hope to see you tonight.
- oldman
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If the US is going to get fake P-47s added, the Japanese should get fake Ki-84s or N1K2-Js.
Either stick with what was there or go full fantasy, don't put a 1944 fighter into something just because a fan of that fighter demands it.
does this mean you'll be in there tonight? besides we moved some ki-61's and it turned into one heck of a fight. you shoulda been there!
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If the US is going to get fake P-47s added, the Japanese should get fake Ki-84s or N1K2-Js.
Either stick with what was there or go full fantasy, don't put a 1944 fighter into something just because a fan of that fighter demands it.
I sure would like to see you come into the AVA Karnak. I think you would have a lot to offer. You seem to have heart felt suggestions that show your interest in the material and venue.
:salute
Way
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Hey Puma~
They reset the arenas~ the setup is messed up and needs to be tweaked when u get a chance<S>
Sorry, Seadog. I'm out of town until tonight. The other gents on the staff have been watching the setup for me.
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it was all taken care of last night
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Thank you sir,
I'm out to sea for the week~ was great fun!
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If the US is going to get fake P-47s added, the Japanese should get fake Ki-84s or N1K2-Js.
Either stick with what was there or go full fantasy, don't put a 1944 fighter into something just because a fan of that fighter demands it.
Whats the problem? The P-47D11 is a solidly mid 1943 fighter that operated against the same opposition types in the same theater. It was not a demand but a request that was graciously accommodated in a limited fashion and added a fun dimension to a larger turnout.
Sure you would have found if stimulating if you had participated.
~Seadog36
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thanks to everyone that was in there last night. at one point i saw 18 players. it was a great time, and was pretty civil for the most part. i got the snot beat out of me, but thats something i expect.
<S> to everyone that played last night. was a great time!
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was a great time!
True. Lots of old faces to mix with the new.
- oldman