Question: Vella Gulf

[WernherVonTrapp]

Is the battle of Vella Gulf scripted into RFB 2.0?

[tater]

RFB doesn't do anything to the campaign.

If you want stuff like that, get RSRDC.

[Armistead]

Yep, it is in RSRD. I watched it, but was too far behind to get involved, but just a basic DD battle.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Oooooh! Goody, goody, goody.http://smileydatabase.com/s/507.gif I'm running RSRDC in tandem with RFB. I'm currently in the New Georgia Sound and it's August 5, 1943.http://smileydatabase.com/s/533.gif I've spent the last five days patrolling of the coasts of Kolombangara and Vella Lavella in anticipation, of tomorrow. I guess I'll break out a deck of spotter cards and play some poker with the boys while we wait for http://smileydatabase.com/s/525.gif.
:03:

[WernherVonTrapp]

Yep, it is in RSRD. I watched it, but was too far behind to get involved, but just a basic DD battle.Yay! I won the battle of Vella Gulf. Well, after I thoroughly researched the battle prior to playing. I picked a spot about 8500yds east of Vella Lavella at the entrance to the gulf. I was headed/pointed eastward where I just sat, waiting for an ambush. Sure enough, around 22:30 hours, I pick up a sonar contact SE of my position. It was the American TF. Then, at about 23:00 hours, I get another contact NW of my pos. That was the Tokyo Express, 4 DDs. I plotted their course using sonar and then went to radar depth. Sure enough, they were headed toward me on a SW course. Radar soon picked them up and I had, for the most part, accurately estimated their course, with the exception of a minor adjustment to my attack position.
Then, at the last minute, they changed their course to SSW and were coming right toward me. I put the sub into reverse (back standard) and once I reached speed went to Back Slow. The DDs (2 Fubuki and 2 Shiratsuyu class) were doing about 29kts once I had them on visual. I let 2 torps go at the lead Fubuki and went deep, still in reverse. About 1 minute later I heard, "Torpedo Impact!". Two of the DDs continued on their way, 1 Shiratsuyu stayed behind, dead in the water, to protect the flank. I found him about 3900yds dead ahead of me when I reached PD. The seas were very rough (a big plus) and I let two more torps go at the Shiratsuyu. Again I went deep and one torp hit home. Two DDs down. Now, I start checking my sonar to see what's going on. I'm gloating, rubbing my hands together and thinking, "Our boys in the TF must be giving those Japs a good whooping right about now", snickering to myself. I decided to take some screenies of our TF (DDs) making their torpedo run on the Japs, got some good ones too. After a while of listening, I'm thinking, something ain't right here. The sonar is still picking up all the players, Japs included. Then it hit me. Oh shoooooot, when I took out the first DD in their straight line of approach, the rest started zigging, removing the element of surprise for our own TF. I go to PD, which took literally forever and I see the last 2 remaining Jap DDs sitting still in the water, about 4200yds ahead. I think to myself, "I can use a little help here guys", hoping our TF will preoccupy the Japs so that I can slip away. "What's this?", I ask the sonar PO. He tells me, "They're moving away, sir. Our TF is moving away at very fast screws." Of course, I blurt out, "For the love of Pete" as I dash to the periscope. OK, I got myself into this mess, I'll get myself out of it. Two torps left while the rest are still being loaded (silent running), I fire one at the lead Fubuki. Funny, he just sat there and took it but, hey, a kill's a kill, right?
The last remaining Shiratsuyu pulls a "feet don't fail me now" and whisks away at 15kts. Right across the front of my bow. I hit him at 3400yds away. "Surface the boat", was my last command. Funny, on the way back to Tulagi, there were alot of planes flying overhead at 2:00am in the morning. From their directions of travel (jap airbases nearby), I knew they were both ours and theirs. Nevertheless, I arrived safely back at Tulagi, only to be reprimanded by Admiral Turner for nearly screwing up the operation. Seems the TF commanders got together, synchronized their stories and took all the credit for the battle. I got a letter of reprimand in my file now.:wah: After all that.

[Barkhorn1x]

Great story man!!

[Armistead]

Oooooh! Goody, goody, goody.http://smileydatabase.com/s/507.gif I'm running RSRDC in tandem with RFB. I'm currently in the New Georgia Sound and it's August 5, 1943.http://smileydatabase.com/s/533.gif I've spent the last five days patrolling of the coasts of Kolombangara and Vella Lavella in anticipation, of tomorrow. I guess I'll break out a deck of spotter cards and play some poker with the boys while we wait for http://smileydatabase.com/s/525.gif.
:03:


There are actually several medium battles yet to come. I'll try to remember them.

No doubt the Solomons campaign in RSRD is awesome. You can stay in heavy action for about 2 years with a little planning. You really don't have to cheat history because the game gives you the same basic info of whats coming, but it's good to know.

Sometimes just not enough torps. Take the Battle of Coral Sea. I will attack the Shoho invasion group first, but just get the carrier, then hurry to the battle of Coral Sea to take out the two carriers. Then rush to cut off the large Port Moresby invasion group returning to Rabaul. You have no time to reload, but can attack all three groups if you just go for the big ships.

Then the big battles
Battle of GC
Battle of Savo...one of the best surface battles
Battle of Eastern Solomons.
Battle of Santa Cruz....real biggy.

Then all the slot runs, mostly DD's, but several groups have CA's.

Then numerous medium battles....

Lurker really put in the work here.:up:

[Armistead]

Make sure you do the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay or just nice to watch. Nov. 2 43, should be coming up. Then the battle of Cape Saint George Nov. 26.

You can sit off Rabaul and watch the carrier raid on it Nov 5. Goe's on for a few days in game, but just use the cam and go to the bay, fun to watch all the different surface planes attack. Even some P-51's show up, not that they should.

[WernherVonTrapp]

fun to watch all the different surface planes attack. Even some P-51's show up, not that they should.Now, now, don't be too sure. You never know with George Kenney and his Fifth Air Force. From what I've read about him, he was uncanny in his resourcefulness.
Anyway, thanks for the heads-up. I'm currently heading north toward Pohnpei island to see if there are any goodies docked at Ponape, then I'm heading home to Midway.:03:

[NorthBeach]

Wernher - What fun!!! But, what ingrates!

[tater]

Make sure you do the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay or just nice to watch. Nov. 2 43, should be coming up. Then the battle of Cape Saint George Nov. 26.

You can sit off Rabaul and watch the carrier raid on it Nov 5. Goe's on for a few days in game, but just use the cam and go to the bay, fun to watch all the different surface planes attack. Even some P-51's show up, not that they should.

Odd, since I just checked and there are no P-51s there, only F4Us and TBMs.

Small USAAF bases do have P-51s after mid 1943 in RSRDC, so perhaps it was a randomly generated group. The USAAF was using P-51s in Asia at that time, but really in the CBI.

It's important to remember that not all types in use are available to use in SH4. The P-51 is a reasonable "fill in" for the P-40s in use in that area (liquid-cooled, single engine fighter).

[Armistead]

You're right, I was thinking P38's, been so long I said the wrong ones. I went looking at my SS's thinking P51's and they were the 38's. I don't think I've ever seen P51's in the game anywhere, not that they were used to any degree in the Pacific.

If it only shows F4's and TBMS, not sure how the files work using RSRD unless a random group, as the P38's show, along with several other different types of US and British planes attacking Rabual, including the big bombers.. .Course these aren't carrier aircraft, so you may be looking at those files.

P38's my favorite plane of that time.
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2009-06-30_041129_671.jpg
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2009-07-01_133548_968.jpg

[Stealhead]

They did fly in the CBI mainly A-36s Apache which where P-51As that where modified for ground attack though in the CBI at least they where used as fighters often and they did also fly with P-51As.Funny thing is the only real difference between a P-51A and an A-36 was that the A-36 had dive brakes so in all reality the A-36 was a P-51A with a new name the A-36 was so-so in the CBI but it was all they had to fly. P-51D and Ks where only flown in mostly 1945 escorting B-29s the P-82 Twin Mustang(entirely different air frame from the P-51 it was not two P-51Ds side by side) was to have performed this role but missed out on the big show and some CBI squadrons did also finally get the P-51D in late 44 early 45 to replace A-36s and P-40s, Europe First!

I wonder if they have any P-39 models they did have P-39s at Guadalcanal as well as P-38Fs.The one in the picture above looks like a P-38JorL which was not around until 1944 late late 43.The P-38s that flew on the Yammato kill mission where P-38Fs.

[tater]

The A-36 had the Allison engine, that's the primary difference, IMO.

[Stealhead]

The P-51A also had the same Allison engine as in the A-36 which did not perform very well at high altitudes which was a no go because the P-51 airframe was not at home at low level with any engine it was the P-51B that got the Merlin/Packard and D got even better the K had a smaller diameter propeller and different radio gear.The simple engine change out and then the bubble canopy and extra fuel tanks turned a mediocre plane into one of the best fighters in history not to mention best looking.

Of course my favorite PTO based aircraft would have to be the P-38 because it kicked some serious ass in the Pacific.Many people do not know that Charles Lindbergh who was not allowed into the US military for political reasons had a great interest in the P-38s in the Pacific and often went to P-38 units and showed the pilots and maintenance crews ways to improve the planes overall performance especially its range he also did fly the P-38 in combat(illegally) a few times and did shot down Jap planes of course they where never credited or recorded except in the minds of the men flying with him for obvious reasons.And of course you cant forget Richard Bong Americas top ace.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Hey, nice screenies of the P-38s Armistead.:up: I think their typical armament included 4 .50 cals plus a 20mm. I can't remember where I read it but, I think Kenney had some of his P-38s field-modified to carry 6 .50 cals in the nose and a 37mm to replace the 20mm. The skip-bombing tactics he developed were the curse of the IJN. There's even mention of it in my book, "Japanese Destroyer Captain". The IJN was terrified of this new bombing technique. According to the book, in their own words, the Japanese navy had no effective countermeasure against it.

[Stealhead]

You are right most P-38s had 4 .50s and a single 20mm the first early models had a 37mm in place of the 20mm but the 20mm was more effective for air to air combat so later models had it as standard from the F up If I recall the great thing about the gun set up on the P-38 they where direct bore sighted little adjustment was needed because of their location they where deadly accurate.

The Kenny mod sounds very possible it would have been better for strafing kind of like the B-25s that had all the 50. cals forward firing in the nose one the J had 12 .50s all but 4 in the nose the others where in packs below the cockpit there was even a version of the B-25 that had a 75mm cannon and two .50s for sighting boom! that must have really rained on many a Japanese shipping parade.To fly in such a mission would have taken some balls though just off the water with even the kitchen sink getting blasted at your plane good thing most American aircraft where so sturdy you'd never have seen a Betty trying pull of the B-25 strafing mission can anyone say flying tinder box:har:

[WernherVonTrapp]

you'd never have seen a Betty trying pull of the B-25 strafing mission can anyone say flying tinder box:har:Yeah, I think even the Betty Bomber crews began referring to the G4M Type-1 as the, "Type-1 Lighter", because of the ease with which it would "go up" after being hit be enemy fire.http://smileydatabase.com/s/533.gif

[Stealhead]

I heard the G4M was called by some the flying cigar a pretty accurate name because it did have a cigar shape and it burned like one too.It did however have a 20mm cannon in the tail and also had outstanding range so it had its surprises. There was a version later in the war that was to have carried those "Ohka" manned flying rocket bombs luckily they never got used as it could have been launched form 30 miles away a cruise missile more or less.

It is quite surprising the Japanese where finally starting to make some surprisingly advanced aircraft and other military equipment very late war too late.Had they have somehow managed to do some serious damage to an invasion fleet or found some other way to delay us and made the war last longer who knows what might have happened. The high brass was very concerned that some US troops who had fought for so long already might reach a breaking point sooner or later one can only take so much brutal combat there was a show on History about this it was called X-day or Invasion X Operation X something like that about Operation Trumpet(invasion of Japan) it would have been nasty for all sides in fact they started making Purple Hearts for this action and it took Korea,Vietnam,Grenada,Panama,Desert Storm and finally our current war to use up those Purple Hearts made for Trumpet, very interesting show.