Battle of Santa Cruz

Frame 3 – The Battle of Santa Cruz

 

Mission Premise:

Background

It is October of 1942, the US Navy had won a major and significant victory at the engagement off the Island of Midway just four months before. The decision is made by president Roosevelt and the War department to counter attack the Japanese. Men and materials are moved to the South Pacific for the invasion of Guadalcanal in the Solomon island chain. The IJN throws the power of their massive fleet into action to repel the Americans from Guadalcanal and Henderson Field. Casualties are high on both sides.

Admiral Yamamoto pressed his force into battle to retake Henderson field and the island of Guadalcanal more ferociously than in previous efforts. Long range bomber missions escorted by the long range Zero fighters increased in intensity. The US Marines at Henderson field were constantly under attack on land, sea, and by air. The Japanese invasion fleet steamed south to land its IJA and IJM troops on the north end of the island with orders to retake the airfield on Guadalcanal.

A decisive battle is fought north west of the Santa Cruz islands . A carrier battle on a massive scale pits the USN and IJN against each other in the fourth large scale carrier to carrier sea battle between these combatants.
The result was a strategic victory for the IJN. There was widespread damage to both sides. But most notably was the sinking of the USS Hornet causing the US Navy to withdraw from the battle. Although the IJN did not loose any aircraft carriers, the losses of other fleet ships, aircraft, men and materials was excessively high. The IJN fleet would be withdrawn to the Turk islands for extensive repairs.

This airborne struggle would forever be known as the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.

solomonstart

Japanese Forces

Japanese (IJN) forces consist 180 Planes (Assuming 90 Registered IJN)
This is the Minimum Plane Allocation regardless of turnout, if less than 90 arrive for the frame, the number of planes are still available for the IJN Commander to allocate to any player as the CO wishes.   If more than 90 participate in the frame, the plane allocation will be distributed at the same percentages. (Percentage of “Turnout x 2″)

  • 45 A6M2 No Bombs (25%)
  • 45 AdM3 No Bombs (25%)
  • 45 B5N2 (25%)
  • 45 D3A1 (25%)
  • PT Unlimited If Available

The IJN will have 5 Escort Fleets and 4 Carriers assigned to them.  C61, C62, C63, C64 will have all of the escort ships sunk prior to the start of the frame, and will operate as Carriers Only.  Fleets 65,66,67,68 and 69 will have the CVs sunk prior to the start of the frame, and will operate as Escort Ships.  IJN Fleets will begin anywhere within sectors 14-16 across to 18-16.

US Forces

United States (US) forces consist 180 Planes (Assuming 90 Registered US)
This is the Minimum Plane Allocation regardless of turnout, if less than 90 arrive for the frame, the number of planes are still available for the US Commander to allocate to any player as the CO wishes.   If more than 90 participate in the frame, the plane allocation will be distributed at the same percentages. (Percentage of “Turnout x 2″)

  • 90 F4F No Bombs (50%)
  • 45SBD (25%)
  • 45 TBM1 (25%)
  • PT Unlimited If Available

The US will have 5 Escort Fleets and 4 Carriers assigned to them.  C52, C53, C54, C55 will have all of the escort ships sunk prior to the start of the frame, and will operate as Carriers Only.  Fleets 56,57,58,59 and 60 will have the CVs sunk prior to the start of the frame, and will operate as Escort Ships. US Fleets will begin anywhere within sectors 14-12 across to 18-12.

WX – Weather Conditions

Clear with light winds.

Objectives:

The US and IJN Fleets will engage in the waters off the northern coasts of San Cristobal and Santa Cruz Islands.  Each side will have 4 independent carriers and 5 escort fleets.  The objectives are to inflict as much damage to the fleets and aircraft as possible.

Objective A: Eliminate the ability to utilize Aircraft.  This is accomplished by either sinking all 4 carriers or by wiping out 75% their total allocated aircraft.
Achieving objective A is considered a Major Victory.  If neither side accomplishes the goal, the total of all planes destroyed will be counted and the most aircraft killed will be awarded a Minor Victory.

Objective B: Sink more escort ships than the other side.  This battle can range until the end of the frame regardless of accomplishing Objective A, as the PT boats are unlimited, and the ships are capable of attacking and defending themselves.  Achieving Objective B while sinking less than 50% of the escort ships is considered a Minor Victory.  Achieving Objective B while sinking 50% or more of the escorting ships is considered a Major Victory.

Restrictions: Each unique “fleet”, whether it’s a Carrier or an Escort Group, will operate independently, and can be assembled into any configuration the CO desires.  The entire map is available for use, ships can be sent where ever they can be best used.  The only conditions placed on the ships is that each CV start with 25% of the players showing up for the frame, designating that CV as their home base. Landing successfully and towering out at your home CV  is the only way to not count that plane as lost. If a CV is sunk, then, those planes that are still available may be placed on another, permanent fleet, up to and until that CV is also sunk, and so on. The CO may use any CV as the new home, and so long as the plane is landed successfully, the plane will not be considered lost.

5″ and 40mm Guns are disabled.

At no time will land bases be available, all nearby air fields will be set to a Neutral Country, it is highly advisable to avoid these locations. 

Frame 3 – Arena Setting:
No Wind
Time – Start time 7:00 am Arena Clock (Noon Pacific, 3:00 PM Eastern)
Fighter and Bomber Warning Range – 36,960 about 7 miles
Enemy Collisions – On
External view for bombers (F3) – On
Visibility – 15
Fuel – 1.0
Ack – .02
Kill Shooter – off
Radar – Off
The  sink weight of aircraft carriers is 3x Main Arena Standard.

 

Credits

Scenario design: The Aces High Scenario Team, ROC, Brooke, Soulyss, Redtail7

Solomons: The Aces High Terrain Team
http://downloads.hitechcreations.com/ahiiterr/solomons.res

Scenario CM: ROC

Side CMs
IJN: Brooke
US: Redtail7

US Team CO:

IJN Team CO: