An all out Allied attack from the start was the one circumstance I knew would cause us problems. Both Allied targets could be hit simultaneously and we would be outnumbered in the skies at both of them. Nevertheless I decided to concentrate on defense from the start, even though I knew our buffs would be left with a long, tedious wait until we could locate the CV and arrange escort. Sorry guys...
We had 18 gruppo 3 Stormo and Airmaggeddon Squadrons' Ki61s defending P36 right from the start. 9GIAP had A7 to defend, with 6 N1ks under Skyman patrolling between the two objectives.
As the Allied attacks began, 418 Sqn's Zeros attacked P38 and I ordered them to rush to P36 to help counter the attack there. Unfortunately the Allies had withdrawn by the time they arrived, leaving 4 of the 5 original defenders shot down or ditched. The N1Ks intercepted an F4U flight as related by Cav, but did not get embroiled in the low combat: Perhaps if they had the result at P36 would have been more conclusive there in our favour. OTOH this may also have prevented their effective intervention at A7 shortly afterwards. Certainly the A7 battle was about the bloodiest I've seen in a TOD and the N1Ks were desperately needed there.
After the initial onslaught, we had only 1 Ki61 (Fariz) and 1 N1K (JoGee) over A7. P36 was left without cover, so our outnumbered fighters had been decimated. I am just impressed to hell with the way they fought in adverse circumstances! But they had done enough I hope to prevent the loss of either base, our secondary target had been damaged, and I still had 418 and 308 squadrons intact for a counter strike.
Vladd
