Here's my AAR:
We were told to attack any and all CVGs in a zone from 125 to 225 miles E of A7 and some 75 miles N/S. For this task, we were required to use torpedoes, and permitted to use only as many F/Bs as torpedo planes. We were also told to expect an enemy attack on our carrier, which was 25 miles S of the enemy CV zone.
In making the orders, I concluded that the enemy could obtain overwhelming air superiority over our CV before our land-based units got anywhere near the action.
So I conceded our CVG. I concentrated the bulk of the effort on the strike package. Ki67s were far more survivable than TBMs, so I picked those. For added security (building on last week's results, where Ki-67s had "Free shots" on the carriers, but only sank one), I elected to use some Ki-61s as dive bombers. While this inline fighter was admittedly a poor choice as a dive-bomber, it was the only thing in our arsenal capable of carrying 1000 lbs. of bombs.
The orders were (numbers are approximate):
308 (9? Planes): take A6M5s from the carrier, and patrol N, looking for the CV, TBMs and avoiding fighters.
56 (F) sq. Firebirds (9 Planes): take off from A7 with 5 N1ks and the remaining planes Ki61s. Cover the takeoff of the strike group, then patrol E. Drag any fighters to Airmag + 18^
Airmag (4) + 18^ (5): A7, Ki-61s: provide a barrier escort for the Ki-67s. When called by the Firebirds, assist them in shooting down and enemy planes.
9 GIAP (10 Planes): A7, Ki-61s, heavy. Fly N from A7, then E to the northern edge of the patrol zone. Dive-bomb the carrier group. Jettison ord if in trouble.
418 RCAF (10 planes): A7, Ki-67s, torpedoes. Fly 50 miles N from A7, then E, and loiter until the carrier is sighted. Make a run on the carrier.
---
the mission.
Well the big surprise for me was the 5" ack. I gave 418 the option of taking bombs instead and letting me deal with the CMs, but they nobly insisted on fulfilling their role.
The 308 headed N from the carrier and made first contact with the enemy in 15,11. They apparently avoided detection and were patrolling E. The firebirds then found the enemy stacked from 30 to 10k in the same area. They can tell what happened next. All I know is that a single 3-CV task group was spotted, and I ordered all ships over the area. 9 GIAP had fuel issues, so I ordered them to drop on target. They scored many hits on the CV, but failed to sink it. After what seemed like a fierce battle, the allies were vanquished. Towards the end, the Ki-67s of the 418 came in. Some fighters gave them trouble, but they made it to the wall that the 6 5" gunners put up. Then they were all destroyed short of the target.
I ordered what was left of the squads back to A7 to rearm and regroup. While they went on their 250-300 mile round trip, the 308th shadowed the carrier, observing many landing mishaps. No allied planes attempted to take off.
About an hour later, the Ki-61s made it back to the target. 9 GIAP dropped on a carrier and sunk it. With ten minutes remaining in the frame, I had to order everybody to an emergency CV landing. The expert pilots showed their mettle as no airframes were lost. The worst damage was a collapsed right gear on a Zeke.
The Allied attack on our CV never materialized.
I've got to say it was a well fought battle, although the numbers were somewhat in our favor (as tends to happen in multiframe scenarios: the losers suffer higher attrition). The CMs did a good job.
