19 Attachment(s)
Midway Rising: Attack the Transport Fleet
I had started playing this solo campaign last summer (please see my two prior AARs) and I played this game back then before life got in the way of my gaming. Filed under the category of better late than never, here now is the AAR for this third scenario of the Midway Rising campaign -- Attack the Transport Fleet.
Turn 1-- USN forces approaches targets (two Wildcats and two Dauntlesses). The Wildcats are piloted by the following recurring characters in the campaign game-- Wildcat F-2 (Lcdr. Sterling Moore) and Wildcat F-3 (Lt.jg William "Lucky Billy" Sims).
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The IJN transports sail on course:
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Turn 2- The USN dive bombers fall behind the Wildcats due to speed differences as they approach the target. The first wave of IJN Zeroes approach to defend the transports.
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Turn 3- AI has the IJN planes cross over each other on approach, while USN planes continue their approach. Wildcat F-2 takes AA fire from rear ship and it misses plane. The front ship fires AA Wildcat F-3 and also misses. Wildcat F-3 and the Red Stripe Zero exchange long range fire inflicting 3 points damage on each other BUT the Zero takes an engine hit!
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Turn 4 The USN dive bombers begin to dive toward ships. The Wildcats go after the Zeroes and the Zeroes (per scenario) go after the dive bombers diving with them. The reinforcement Zero (per scenario) enters. The dive bombers take AA from the ships -- both survive unscathed (those transports really need some gunnery practice!). Wildcat F-2 fires at long range at Red Stripe Zero missing. Wildcat F-3 fires long range at Camo Zero inflicting 7 points of damage and an engine hit. White Tail Dauntless fires at close range at Red Stripe Zero inflicting 4 points damage and rudder damage. Blue Tail Dauntless fires at long range at Camo Zero inflicting 1 point damage. Camo Zero returns fire at Blue Tail Dauntless at long range.
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Turn 5 All planes dive. Both Dauntless release their bombs hitting targets, but take AA fire first. White Tail Dauntless takes 8 points damage, Blue Tail takes 0.
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Turn 6 -- USN planes maneuver, dive bombers go straight. Wildcats F-2 and F-3 fire long range on Black Stripe Zero who returns fire on F-3. 8 points damage and a pilot wound on the Zero, 0 points on F-3.
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Turns 7 & 8-- Dive bombers Immelmann, Wildcats converge Zero (F-3 doing a stall). The Zero turns into them. The other Zeroes with engine damage turn back towards targets. Wildcat F-3 and Black Stripe Zero exchange close range fire -- Wildcat F-3 (pilot "Lucky Billy" Sims) gets THREE (count 'em three) 0 damage chits and inflicts 2 damage points and a second pilot wound thus shooting down Black Stripe Zero (Sims first aerial victory). Wildcats go straight in preparation for Immelmann, Dauntless go straight at high speed (attempting get away!). Blue Tail Dauntless fires close range at Red Stripe Zero who returns fire. White Tail Dauntless fires at long range. Zero takes 6 points from Blue Tail, 1 point and rudder damage from White Tail. Blue Tail takes 3 points damage and BOOM! from Red Stripe Zero (At this point I'm afraid I got a little excited and didn't take as many photos as I should have).
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Turn 9 The Wildcats Immelmann, the Dauntless flees straight ahead making run to get back to carrier. The Zeroes turn. White Tail Dauntless tail gunner puts 2 points on Red Stripe Zero.
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Turn 10-- Wildcats and Zeroes close. The Dauntless flees. Wildcat F-3 and Camo Zero exchange close range shots. "Lucky Billy" took two 0 damage chits before his luck ran out -- the third chit inflicted 5 points damage. Camo Zero takes 4 points damage. Wildcat F-2 put 2 more points on Camo Zero.
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Turns 11 & 12 -- Wildcats bank toward Red Stripe Zero and both fire at close range shooting down the Zero (0.5 victories to each pilot). The Zero shoots down Wildcat F-3. "Lucky Billy" Sims luck continues as after rolling on the appropriate campaign charts, we find he has bailed out and been picked up by a USN submarine. Wildcat F-2 races to catch the Dauntless and escort it back to the carrier while Camo Zero limps back to its own ship. The two freighters continue to burn.
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Analysis-- The USN met the victory conditions of the scenario of bombing the ships and returning at least one Dauntless to the carrier. The IJN failed to meet its victory conditions. Squadron Status Update for Campaign thus far:
Wildcat F-2, Lcdr. Sterling Moore (1.83 victories); Wildcat F-3 Ltjg. William ("Lucky Billy") Sims (1.5 victories); Wildcat F-4 Ltjg. John Saunders, DFC (4.0 victories); Wildcat F-7 with replacement pilot Ensign Jimmy Crosby (0.0 victories).
The Butcher's Bill:
USN:
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IJN:
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