SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post

joegrundman · 05-13-12, 06:09 AM

Winter 1943

Battle of Midway round 2

It was later found out what happened. The Japanese carrier strike force was positioned 60 nm north east of the invasion force, intending to hit any american forces in the flank and cut off the line of retreat.

But with the American approaching from the South, they hit the invasion fleet while the Japanese carrier force was out of position.

Worse than that, the loss of the light carrier Zuiho denied the Japanese the scouting planes which could have found the Americans and enabled a long range strike from the Japanese carrier force.

The Japanese admiral in charge of the invasion fleet broke radio silence to report the probable direction of the americans, but in fact the airstrike from the south had changed direction to approach from the morning sun and so the direction reported was inaccurate, and operating at extreme range the planes of the carrier strike force could not spend time searching thoroughly.

So the Americans remained undetected as the strike force returned, hurriedly rearmed, refueled and relaunched for a second strike.

With no CAP able to prevent the strike, it was only the guns of the air defense able to prevent the American planes. Although ready this time, the anti-aircraft gunnery of the Japanese proved woefully inadequate and almost all the American strike planes got to make an attack on target.

Hit by bombs and torpedoes, the already lightly damaged battleship lost all power, and the order to abandon ship was given after two hours of fire fighting.

The rest of the American squadrons attacked the cruisers, destroyers and merchantmen escorting the troops and invasion equipment. Two more cruisers were lost, as well as destroyers and another heavily laden troop transport was sunk.

The Americans returned to their carriers with only light losses to themselves having severely damaged the Japanese Task Force

BC3 Hiei sunk, CA2, DD1 damaged. 1-2 inf lost. No losses to the Americans

05-13-12, 06:09 AM	#73
joegrundman Ocean Warrior Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,689 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	Winter 1943 Battle of Midway round 2 It was later found out what happened. The Japanese carrier strike force was positioned 60 nm north east of the invasion force, intending to hit any american forces in the flank and cut off the line of retreat. But with the American approaching from the South, they hit the invasion fleet while the Japanese carrier force was out of position. Worse than that, the loss of the light carrier Zuiho denied the Japanese the scouting planes which could have found the Americans and enabled a long range strike from the Japanese carrier force. The Japanese admiral in charge of the invasion fleet broke radio silence to report the probable direction of the americans, but in fact the airstrike from the south had changed direction to approach from the morning sun and so the direction reported was inaccurate, and operating at extreme range the planes of the carrier strike force could not spend time searching thoroughly. So the Americans remained undetected as the strike force returned, hurriedly rearmed, refueled and relaunched for a second strike. With no CAP able to prevent the strike, it was only the guns of the air defense able to prevent the American planes. Although ready this time, the anti-aircraft gunnery of the Japanese proved woefully inadequate and almost all the American strike planes got to make an attack on target. Hit by bombs and torpedoes, the already lightly damaged battleship lost all power, and the order to abandon ship was given after two hours of fire fighting. The rest of the American squadrons attacked the cruisers, destroyers and merchantmen escorting the troops and invasion equipment. Two more cruisers were lost, as well as destroyers and another heavily laden troop transport was sunk. The Americans returned to their carriers with only light losses to themselves having severely damaged the Japanese Task Force BC3 Hiei sunk, CA2, DD1 damaged. 1-2 inf lost. No losses to the Americans __________________ "Enemy submarines are to be called U-Boats. The term submarine is to be reserved for Allied under water vessels. U-Boats are those dastardly villains who sink our ships, while submarines are those gallant and noble craft which sink theirs." Winston Churchill Last edited by joegrundman; 05-13-12 at 06:49 AM.