Frame 1 Rules Clarification.......

[Dadsguns]

During this last FSO, the CV we launched from was attacked by a group of planes that initially dropped ord, some hit, most missed.  CV was still afloat.  What appeared to be a last ditch effort the CV was strafed en mass by fighters until it was sunk.  

According to the Rules, is that acceptable?

Rule States:
"All targets must be attacked within 60 minutes of the start of the frame. They must be attacked with explosive ordinance, (rockets and bombs) by a full squadron. Feints and diversions prior to a larger strike force do not satisfy the requirements of this rule. Simply strafing a target with fighters does not satisfy the requirements of this rule. CIC's are expected to construct their orders in such a way that the main attacks reach their targets by T+60. Administrator CM's may request copies of orders to evaluate the observance of this rule.  "

[Baumer]

Yes it was within the rules.

[Saxman]

During this last FSO, the CV we launched from was attacked by a group of planes that initially dropped ord, some hit, most missed.

Sounds like they attacked with ords to me.

[Chapel]

It was actually pretty cool seeing them swarm down strafing the CV.
For some reason I was under the impression that 50cal bullets would just bounce off ship armor.

[BigR]

That was us (The Nightmares). We had a position report on the CV, so we landed and rearmed. There were a TON of zekes around the CV, but we were a little higher. We all made a dive bombing run, and most of us hit with our bombs, but the CV didn't go down. The call was made to gun it down...I got shot down, but most of my squadies survived. They made multiple passes on the CV, and i forget who finally gunned it down, but he was the last guy out. It was THAT close.  I had joined 50cals as an observer, and it was a ton of fun watching them gun the ship down and then fight their way out! <S> To everyone involved.

[Greziz]

Yeah I loved that cv I hit 14 objects on it with my single 500lb bomb! I was the first in and 2nd to last out ^.^

[TracerX]

The first wave attack with the B-17's was well within the 60 minute window.  Unfortunately, they were not able to calibrate very well, and mostly missed the target.  They rearmed and tried to return, but they met with a wall of A6M's and we were unable to defend them.  Fortunately the Nightmares were in position to make a followup strike late in the frame, and they succeded in taking it down in a very determined attack.  Great Job Nightmares, I thought there was no way we were going to get that CV after seeing the sky full of A6M's

[daddog]

Must have been pretty close to sinking to straff it down with .50's. 

[TracerX]

It was actually pretty cool seeing them swarm down strafing the CV.
For some reason I was under the impression that 50cal bullets would just bounce off ship armor.

Look at it like the ship was already lost.  Critical damage had been done to the ship, and the P-40's were straffing down the personnel on the decks and gun positions that were still trying to save her.

There is no way that a CV can be straffed down without lots of dammage being done by the bombs, even with the AA turned way down.

[daddog]

Wish we had 'visual' levels of damage for task groups. For example 1/4 damage would be smoke, 1/2 damage would be reduced speed, smoke and fire in a couple places, 3/4 damage dead in the water with lots of fire and smoke.

[Getback]

That was an awesome run by the Nightmares. They were called upon to defend a base and then later asked to attack the cv from what I was briefed on.

[Chapel]

Oh don't get me wrong TracerX, I wasn't complaining about it. The thought just never occured to me to try and strafe down a CV with a plane armed with .50cal guns.
I've tried using .50cals on a soft hanger before to no avail, and just assumed that they were pretty insignificant against a hard target like that.

[TracerX]

Oh don't get me wrong TracerX, I wasn't complaining about it. The thought just never occured to me to try and strafe down a CV with a plane armed with .50cal guns.
I've tried using .50cals on a soft hanger before to no avail, and just assumed that they were pretty insignificant against a hard target like that.

I understand your question Chapel, and I didn't mean to sound defensive, just trying to present an alternate view.  I think you are correct about how ineffective straffing attacks are.  This just proves how severely damaged the CV was, that the P-40's were able to Straffe it down.  I called them in to drop their bombs on the CV, it was their idea to try to straffe it after bombing it, and that gamble paid off this time. 

[Dadsguns]

How damaged the CV was could be debated, since it obviously was damaged but to what extent I would not know, but also in that same breath I do not know how much damage was introduced by making several strafing runs by that amount of planes either which eventually sunk it.  

With that said, strafing a target as a CV with guns is OK as long as they attempted to drop it with ords and that is the only time strafing is allowed is when there is a attempt using ords?

Once there are no longer ords involved since they have been expired, in essence you are now in a fighter with cannon and you are down to using just that cannon, and at that point I understand this part of the rule to be in effect. 
"Simply strafing a target with fighters does not satisfy the requirements of this rule."

Am I reading this wrong?

[BigR]

How damaged the CV was could be debated, since it obviously was damaged but to what extent I would not know, but also in that same breath I do not know how much damage was introduced by making several strafing runs by that amount of planes either which eventually sunk it.  

With that said, strafing a target as a CV with guns is OK as long as they attempted to drop it with ords and that is the only time strafing is allowed is when there is a attempt using ords?

Once there are no longer ords involved since they have been expired, in essence you are now in a fighter with cannon and you are down to using just that cannon, and at that point I understand this part of the rule to be in effect. 
"Simply strafing a target with fighters does not satisfy the requirements of this rule."

Am I reading this wrong?

The rule was that you have to make an attempt with ord before 60 minutes. The B17s were that attempt. That is the only requirement. After the initial bombing attempt, it doesn't matter what you use. Ive seen this done many many times during FSOs on targets on air bases. Ive even seen bombers drop their bombs, and then make low strafing passes with their turrets. There is long standing precedent that makes the attack on the CV legit.