AAR: Midway Rising: Scenario 6: Yorktown Down!

(All offending remarks deleted)

Scenario 6:Yorktown Down!

An attack with fighters & dive bombers on the USS Yorktown.

Setup: Dicing for random placement of the defending destroyer I rolled 12; enemy to place destroyer anywhere within 1 ruler distance from Yorktown. I put it on the far side to lessen the AA fire.
Attachment 114786
The Japanese attack would be in 2 groups; 2 Vals with 1 zero in support.
The CAP from Yorktown headed back to the carrier. (A British plane in support too!)
Zero’s moving to attack the incoming CAP whilst the Yorktown fires its first 5” AA salvo. (8 damage)
Attachment 114787
Zero’s and wildcats exchange shots, the zero’s takes minor damage whilst none of the zero’s bullets hit the targets.
The Yorktown’s AA defence is on the ball, shorter range 20mm and longer ranged 5” strike out and hit targets.
Attachment 114788
As aircraft pass each other the wildcats engage the bombers
Bomber rear gunners get to strike back
Attachment 114789
The supporting destroyer fires a 5” AA salvo but misses the target
And has no luck with its Quad or starboard AA.
Dive bombers over the Yorktown, CAP out of position, support has arrived from Midway, a single P40.
Attachment 114790
The clear bomb card showing exactly the hit location, right on the money this time.
Attachment 114791
With 2 551lb bombs striking the carrier the damage report is not good. Post AA 1 knocked out, Starboard AA 2 knocked out, 2 separate fires and 110 Hull Points of damage.
A third dive bomber lets its deadly cargo fall as the P40 strikes and claims his prize.
Attachment 114792
This bomb hits the DCT in the tower and causes a third fire and 55 Hull Points of damage. With no other option, the ship fires out of control and a severe list to port, the captain orders abandon ship.
Attachment 114793

Butchers Bill:
Attachment 114794
Yorktown on fire and sinking; Destroyer no damage picks up survivors.
Attachment 114795
Very little damage on the 4 US fighters
Attachment 114796
The Val’s took a pasting from AA and 1 lost to the P40.
Attachment 114797
Not much damage on the 2 zero’s
Summary:
1. Game mechanics work.
2. Replace Yorktown card with new one. (more hull points).
3. Try next game with 2 escorting destroyers.
4. Try it with Kate’s.

Interesting AAR.

The clear bomb card is a nice invetion.

I wonder about the low airplane losses on both sides. :confused:

I suppose it is how the chits come out. That SBD in mission 5 certainly hit it lucky with all those nil point damage chits. The Jap C damage chit box must be full of nil scores as they're shooting is dire.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marechallannes

Interesting AAR.

The clear bomb card is a nice invetion.

I wonder about the low airplane losses on both sides. :confused:

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Loved that clear bomb card Neil. I have been having problems with the bombs from day one.
Refining the hit points of the Carrier would seem to be the way to go for a longer engagement, before the enevitable.
just shows how vulnerable ships were to air attacks, even with fighter cover.
Rob.

I have the statistics from the US naval dept for successful torpedo attacks from how many attacks. I'll see if I can dig it out and include it.

Table 3. Torpedo Attacks and Hits for U.S.
Carrier-Based Aircraft (7 Dec 1941 to 31 May 1945)

Class of Targets...............Number of Attacks*......Number of Hits......Percentage of Hits
Battleships and carriers................322.........................162......................50
Cruisers.....................................341.........................114......................34
Destroyers.................................179...........................55......................31
Total warships............................842.........................331......................39

I'm not sure if I have one for bombs, I'll keep looking.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skafloc

Table 3. Torpedo Attacks and Hits for U.S.
Carrier-Based Aircraft (7 Dec 1941 to 31 May 1945)

Class of Targets...............Number of Attacks*......Number of Hits......Percentage of Hits
Battleships and carriers................322.........................162......................50
Cruisers.....................................341.........................114......................34
Destroyers.................................179...........................55......................31
Total warships............................842.........................331......................39

I'm not sure if I have one for bombs, I'll keep looking.

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That is quite an eye opener Neil. I would not have expected a 50% success rate on Capital ships!:eek:
Rob.

Slower perhaps? But a film I was looking at about torpedo attacks indicated that some carriers doing 30+ knots could turn at 30 degree's!

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Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte

That is quite an eye opener Neil. I would not have expected a 50% success rate on Capital ships!:eek:
Rob.

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Looks great. My absolute favorite period and theater when talking WWII.. I really get an itch to break out those Flat Top boxes (Avalon Hill version) in the basement and play an umpired game again. ..

Great report. Will print the ships cards :)

Nice report, Neil ! :thumbsup:

We are playing sink the carrier(s) at Derby this Sunday. Hopefully a split table with 2 carriers both being attacked and both being defended. Coral Sea this time not Midway.

Might just join you if you can lend lease me a plane.
;)Rob.

NP Rob. If your preference is US I have just the job for you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte

Might just join you if you can lend lease me a plane.
;)Rob.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skafloc

NP Rob. If your preference is US I have just the job for you.

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Don't mind one way or the other Neil.
I can fly as Kyteomoto if you like.
Rob.

Might just do that too. It depends on how many players we get.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte

Don't mind one way or the other Neil.
I can fly as Kyteomoto if you like.
Rob.

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Nice to see the WAS models in play. Gives the game that extra umph.