A map of the battle area. In frame 3, our home base was a17, in sector 6.14. Our objectives were to attack enemy shipping in the Sulu Sea area (the sea SW of a17).
After-Action Report
8/21/2010
by Brooke, GL, 762 Kokutai
This was a scenario that ran in the multiplayer on-line air-combat simulation Aces High.
I was the Group Leader (GL) of 762 Kokutai, a Japanese bomber squadron. We were flying Ki-67's. Today, 762 Kokutai consisted of me (Brooke), JVnotch, Popsman, tudza, and Bdog34.
A map of the battle area. In frame 3, our home base was a17, in sector 6.14. Our objectives were to attack enemy shipping in the Sulu Sea area (the sea SW of a17).
762 Kokutai taking off behind our fighter escort. Fighters, from left to right: Sloehand, wagger, BMathis, morfiend, and meBOB. Bombers from left to right: me (Brooke), Popsman, Bdog34, JVnotch, and tudza. t=0:05
A nice shot of Sloehand's N1K2-J as we all go out to the shipping area. From left to right: JVnotch, wagger, Bdog34, Sloehand, tudza, Popsman, me, and morfiend. t=0:19
A picture of me dropping my torpedoes into the open sea. I went to press one of my view buttons, and idiotically pressed my bomb-release button instead. I can't believe I did that. I was mortified. t=0:23
So, about 20 minutes into our mission, I dropped my torpedoes. I made the decision right away to turn back to get torpedoes, as we needed to sink carriers this frame, and we'd need lots of torpedoes to do it. JVnotch took over for me, and I veered off to head back to a17.
On my way back north, the enemy-location situation deteriorated greatly. A large group of enemy fighters started sweeping up from a33, which blocked my way back and made me worried about getting spotted and swarmed. I headed toward a65 instead of straight to a17 to avoid them, then from a65 toward a17. But they proceeded to cap a17 and a13. I circled nervously in sector 6.13 hoping that they'd clear out after a while, but it was hopeless. They capped southern Panay and stayed there. I couldn't get to a17 or a13 or even anywhere to rearm. I periodically called out the situation on the radio, but there weren't any fighter groups available to clear the bombers' fields.
The rest of 762 Kokutai found the ships, attacked them, lost Popsman and tudza, and JVnotch and Bdog34 headed back north. I called for the guys to meet me at a65. It looked dicey all around, with groups of enemies going to and from southern Panay and a33, and enemy presence in most sectors all around as we tried to figure out what to do. I felt like a trapped rat. After meeting up at a65, it looked clear to go to v106, then to a22. Once at a22, a17 was still being capped, with no reports of friendly fighters around, so I decided we'd run north to rearm eventually at a56. Ug.
JVnotch and I are on the runway after having rearmed. Bdog34 is on the rearm pad. t=1:25
We took off, headed SW, then S, with the idea of going back to attack the ships. Along the way, a17 momentarily cleared of enemy cap, so we tried for it. But we had to go around the damnable strats so as not to flash them and give ourselves away to enemies in the area, and before we could get to a17, cap showed back up again. "Screw it," I said, and we headed back out to sea then south. Once we were out a ways, Japanese fighters got in there and pushed the cap off of a17, so tudza and Popsman could take off. It was still dicey for them, though, as enemies were still coming up from a33 and pushing toward a17. I asked them to run to head to v106, then to a65, which they did without getting jumped.
My path after stupidly dropping my torpedoes into the open sea. A nice 2-hour scenic tour of Negros, Panay, and the Sulu Sea.
As we headed south, we found that OOZ's 755 Kokutai was nearby, so I coordinated with them to join up.
Joining up on OOZ662 and greg1 of 755 Kokutai. OOZ is its GL. t=2:07
As we flew south, I asked tudza and Popsman if they could fly S from a65 to 6.11.5, then W to 5.11.5, then 5.11.4, then to 5.11.7, looking for enemy ships. They did that and didn't see any enemy ships. By that time, 755 Kokutai was nearing that area, so we arranged a rendezvous. Now 755 and 762 Kokutai were all together. We checked out some more areas, looking for more-southerly task groups. We didn't find any, so we headed back N, then E. We found ships in and 5.13.2 area. Some Japanese fighters were in the area, too, which we were very glad of.
Also, I get Madda as a gunner. Thank you, Madda, for joining me as a gunner! <S>
A view left out of my cockpit as 755 goes in on one of the task groups. Enemy fighters are attacking them as they go in. 762 is going for the neighboring task group to the south. We have some enemy fighters starting to trail us as well. From left to right: greg1, o2b1ace, and OOZ662. t=2:22
I roll over the top of tudza as an FM2 attacks him and takes out one of his bombers. I'm working to stay away from that FM2 as he zooms through, as I have only one bomber (not three, like I'd have had if I were able to get back to !@#$ a17). JVnotch, Popsman, and Bdog34 in the background are being harassed by a pair of enemy fighters, with Popsman and Bdog34 firing back. Kermit is following o2b1ace and greg1 on the attacks on the first task group. t=2:25
I'm lined up, in among the ships of our target task group, and dropping my torpedo. I'm trying for a CV, which is maneuvering . . . and miss. t=2:25
A view of tudza as I'm dropping my torpedo. One of his bombers is on fire, and he's about to drop. Unlike me, he hits his target.
A view behind me right after my drop. An FM2 just did an attack run on Popsman.
One of Popsman's bombers exploding and the other missing half a wing and going down after two F4U's attack him. One of them is now on me. t=2:26
My last moments, as a couple of Corsairs set my plane on fire, with a P-38 closing in in case they missed. t=2:26
JVnotch, Bdog34, and I take off from a17, with tudza and Popsman as gunners. We want some payback! But will we get it? t=0:02 (in film 2)
We know where the task groups are, and we get several fighters going down there with us. We always love to have some fighters around. I get Harpi as a gunner. <S> Harpi!
Flying toward one of the task groups as a feint. We are going to break off and head toward a 2nd task group next to this one to the south. This task group turns to a heading straight away from us. From left to right: JVnotch, Bdog34, and me. t=0:14
Fighters chasing us as we close in on the enemy task group. Bdog34 has (with defensive gunfire) discouraged a pursuing F4U. Several more are about, ready to come in, but Quax and 49Nem are up there in fighters giving them something else to think about. From left to right: Bdog34, me, and JVnotch. t=0:15
One of the Corsairs attacking me as we press in closer. The cruiser is firing its 8" guns at us. He's a good shot -- you can see 8" shells streaking toward Bdog34, and they are close. t=0:16
A P-38 blows one of my bombers out of the sky. He's got his dive flaps extended to slow down so as not to overshoot us so quickly. Someone, maybe my gunner Harpi, has shot him up, as he's trailing either fuel or coolant. Bdog34 and JVnotch are visible in the background, going through the hail of AA fire from the ships. t=0:16
A view behind me as a Lightning and a Corsair attack Bdog34 and JVnotch. One of Bdog's bombers is going down in flames. Overall, though, we are in decent shape. I've got 2 bombers; Bdog has 2 bombers; and Notch has 3.
Torpedo away! I'm lined up on the CV. I'm trailing smoke now, and JVnotch, just above me, is also trailing smoke and missing his rudder. JVnotch has just dropped his torpedo as well. t=0:17
A wider view of the above, showing more of the situation.
One of my bombers is blown up by AA fire from the carrier, and I take evasive action in my remaining bomber. Behind me, both of JVnotch's bombers are going down, one on fire, and the other cut in half.
One of my torpedoes detonates against the side of the carrier. At the same moment, an enemy fighter sets my last bomber ablaze. Afterward, my second torpedo hit the carrier. Alas, it wasn't enough to sink it.
I got torpedoes into one carrier, but didn't sink it or anything else. I died both missions. I am disgusted with how I did on my first mission.
Bdog34 sank a cruiser. JVnotch got torpedoes into a carrier on the first mission. Popsman shot down an F4U-1D. tudza got torpedoes into a CV on both missions. Overall, 762 Kokutai sank one ship, killed one enemy fighter, and destroyed 28 objects.
-- Brooke, GL, 762 Kokutai