A map of the battle area. In frame 4, our home base was a63, in sector 1.17. Our objectives were to attack enemy shipping in the Sulu Sea area (the sea SW of a13).
After-Action Report
8/28/2010
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), APDrone, JVnotch, Popsman, tudza, and Reich42, and later pattonjr.
A map of the battle area. In frame 4, our home base was a63, in sector 1.17. Our objectives were to attack enemy shipping in the Sulu Sea area (the sea SW of a13).
762 and 755 Kokutai taking off in our mighty Ki-67 Hiryu "Flying Dragons" from a63, loaded with torpedoes. From left to right: me (Brooke), greg1, APDrone, OOZ662 (the GL of 755 Kokutai), toyfuzz, Talons, tudza, JVnotch, Mato, Kermit, Reich42, and Popsman. t=0:03
A view back from KKEN's N1K2-J fighter, as he leads his fighter group in front of us toward enemy shipping in the Sulu Sea. From left to right: tudza, 0ldgit, JVnotch, Reich42, me, KKEN, APDrone, Popsman, HIENRICH, and saltee. t=0:17
We pick up an FM-2 shadow as we get closer to the enemy shipping. We still don't have the shipping spotted, but the enemy is no doubt getting out a radio report of our position. t=0:53
We are engaged by a group of Wildcats, Corsairs, and Lightnings as we draw closer to the enemy task groups. Looking back left from my bomber formation. An F4U-1D has attacked tudza, giving him fuel leaks in two of his bombers, and is pressing forward toward me. Also, I am being attacked by another F4U from high 6 o'clock. My gunner zack1234 (thank you, zack!) and I are firing back. APDrone is also under attack. From left to right: Popsman, tudza, me, and APDrone. t=1:02
A view back right at the same time as the previous picture, showing the other side. Popsman is firing on an attacker, and enemy fighters are attacking pattonjr and Reich42. From left to right: pattonjr, Reich42, me, and Popsman. Shortly after this, I lose one of my bombers to the attackers.
A view back and left out of my cockpit at tudza as one of his bombers explodes. APDrone is just visible to on right size of the picture, one of his bombers trailing fuel. It looks bad -- and it is -- but we are battling our way to the enemy task groups. t=1:04
I have survived with two bombers so far and am turning in for my attack. There are at least three enemy task groups in close proximity here, and with the fighters, the AA fire, and the need to get lined up, it is impossible for me to tell with CV is associated with a group of 3 DD's and which with 4 DD's. I decide just to go for a cruiser. t=1:04
Torpedo away! The cruiser in the left of the image is firing an 8" salvo, perhaps at me. A P-38 is visible above trailing smoke. t=1:04
A view from the cockpit as I drop my torpedo.
I strafe the cruiser as I pass it, moving my fire toward the 20 mm gun positions just aft of the 2nd 8" turret. My two torpedo tracks are visible left side of the picture. In the background, some Japanese fighters are in there mixing it up. From left to right: BadDuck, airbull, Klingan, and Tilt. t=1:04
It's a hit amidships! Yes! The cruiser goes down, settling by the bow.
I get chased down by a couple of Corsairs. We engage in a lengthy running battle as they take turns doing runs on me. I or zack1234 have tagged one of them in the engine with a 20 mm cannon round from the dorsal gun. t=1:09
The F4U-1A sets my 2nd bomber on fire. t=1:11
They now concentrate on my last bomber, and it too is set ablaze. My last thoughts involve the hope that the damaged Corsair cannot make it back to base! :) t=1:12
Alas, all of 762 and 755 Kokutai were shot down in mission 1.
We rumble down the runway on our second mission, all of 762 and 755 Kokutai together again. t=0:01 (in film 2)
By this time, a lot of our fighter forces for the Sulu Sea were used up for the day. We tried to get the remainder to join up at 26k in 5.12.5 so that they could go into the task-group area with as much concentration of force as possible, ahead of the bombers. Along the way, BMathis joined me as gunner. Thank you very much, BMathis! <S>
A view left rear from my cockpit. Enemy contact in advance of the enemy task groups. BushLt is up there doing helping as best he can while greatly outnumbered. t=0:46
JVnotch or his gunner kills the pilot of a P-38 that has made a run on him. t=0:46
OOZ662 or his gunner blows the wing off an FM-2 that is attacking. t=0:47
An attacking F4U sets one of Kermit's bombers on fire. t=0:48
BMathis and I shoot at an attacking F4U-1D. He loses a left horizontal stabilizer, but sets one of my bombers on fire. t=0:49
Another Corsair comes in, and BMathis and I blast away at him. Kermit and Talons are also under attack. From left to right: Mato, Kermit, Talons, (someone under my gunsight), and APDrone. t=0:49
BMathis and I put more hits into the attacking F4U-1D. It explodes moments after this picture was taken, but it manages to shoot down my drone simultaneously. Also int he picture are Talons and tudza, both having still their full three bombers each. Way to go, tudza and Talons! t=0:49
We press in toward the enemy task groups. We have fought our way mostly through the fighter screen, but it was costly, and there are still a couple of enemy fighters making runs on us. OOZ662 and I are down to single bombers. Mato and Talons have 3 bombers. tudza has 2 or 3 (can't tell). Kermit has two. From left to right: Talons, tudza, Mato, OOZ662, me, and Kermit. t=0:49
Torpedo away! In the background, Talons is also dropping his torpedoes. Mato, Popsman, tudza, and OOZ662 are also pressing their attacks in among the enemy ships. t=0:50
I thought I was lined up perfectly on an enemy cruiser. It was turning into me; I thought I had it; but I missed. I am very disappointed about that.
I try to flee the area. Popsman is in the background trying the same, but there are a lot of enemy fighters around chasing. We are right near a65 at the moment, and I'm trying to head toward that.
A P-38 and F4U-1A chase me down, and the F4U finishes me off. OOZ662 was coming up behind me trying with his front gunner to get some hits into the US fighters chasing me. Thanks, OOZ! t=0:51
Out of lives, I spent the rest of my time as a ship gunner.
I'm firing away at the swarms of enemy aircraft attacking our shipping up east of Mindoro. Here, a B-25 is going down, missing a wing. I didn't get him, though -- it was one of the fighters or another gunner. His bomb (visible lower left of picture) falls short. A ship (a cruiser?) is sinking (lower left). perdweeb, Sukow, STEELE, and ChainSaw are up doing their best while largly outnumbered. t=0:04 (in film 3)
I sank a cruiser, destroyed 4 objects, and got a couple of assists on enemy fighters. I died both missions.
762 Kokutai sank one ship this frame, got 3 kills, and 7 assists, and destroyed 7 objects. Not a great result, but I hope that the pilots had some fun battling their way to enemy ships.
-- Brooke, GL, 762 Kokutai